This was a good book. It covers all of Napoleon's life and time in power, the most important battles during his military and political career, his marriages, and the time leading to his death, after exile.
Despite having so many details and information to work with, Bowle really did a good job putting everything together in a way that wasn't so overwhelming or boring, keeping things moving like in a linear narrative, adding bits of extra curiosities (like what clothes Napoleon was wearing when he surrended, and what medicine he took while sick and dying) to make things richer.

BUT there's also a huge negative thing that kept me from enjoying this fully: comparing Napoleon to Hitler is just something I can't really forgive. Like, I get it, dictators and all that, tried to conquer all of Europe, but... really? I thought it was unnecessary and added absolutely nothing; same with the whole calling Napoleon a demonic figure thing, multiple times through the book.

Maybe it's a product of its time, since Bowle did first publish this in the 1970s and has been dead for a while. I'm glad it got republished and I got to read it, tho.

It used to be said that when people went completely insane that they traditionally often came to believe that they were Napoleon.
Imagine then how Napoleon Bonaparte himself used to feel. Not only did he spend his entire life totally and utterly convinced he was Napoleon, but it turns out,, he actually really was Napoleon all along! It must have been a traumatic experience for him.
This old book by the late John Bowle reminds us of the massive impact Napoleon had on the world during his relatively short time on Earth. Rising from humble origins, he not only completely transformed his nation's military fortunes but revolutionised post-revolutionary France and changed the world forever. He was not the total monster either Hitler or Stalin would prove to be. He did some good while undoubtedly unleashing a significant amount of warfare and misery in his quest for global supremacy.
This is a tale that has been told many times. As ABBA remind us, "the history book on the shelf, it's always repeating itself." But Bowle's version is told very well indeed.

Bowle has cultivated information from a variety of sources to compile this fantastically enthralling study of Napoleon Bonaparte. As a myth, a legend & a man known for his love for Joséphine, I applaud the author for writing a book which was both captivating & informative.

It is no easy feat to write about subject matters such as wars, political personalities, geopolitics, & antiquated ways of life. One might often find this type of literature to be draining & dull. It is fully to the credit of Bowle's writing abilities that he was able to present a timeline of the events which surrounded Napoleon's formative years to his conquests abroad; his obsessive adoration for Joséphine - one which is often times regarded as the epitome of romantic love - to his downfall & succinctly his wading through his remaining years.

This is a very quick read & one that I believe to be worth the effort. The information is accessible, well-rounded & all around cool to read.

Thank you to NetGalley, Sapere Books, & John Bowle for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

#Napoleon #NetGalley

Mr. Bowle and Sapere reprint a Biography of the Corsican from 1973. This is a good one-volume biography of Napoleon Bonaparte and will do nicely for the lay reader. Worth the time if you are looking for an introduction to the life of the French Dictator.

A captivating and well researched portrait of one of the most controversial figures in World history, probably one of the best I have had the opportunity to read in English.
A compelling read from start to finish and very accessible to anyone interested to discover the life of Napoleon and the many aspects of his tumultuous reign
Highly recommended!

Many thanks to Netgalley and Sapere Books for this terrific ARC