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The Age of Napoleon (1975)

by Will Durant, Ariel Durant

Other authors: See the other authors section.

Series: The Story of Civilization (11)

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1,3141014,545 (4.06)5
An engrossing volume on European civilization by Pulitzer Prize-winning historians Will and Ariel DurantThe Age of Napoleon, the eleventh and final volume of the Story of Civilization, surveys the amazing chain of events that wrenched Europe out of the Enlightenment and into the age of democracy. In this masterful work, listeners will encounter the French Revolution-from the storming of the Bastille to the guillotining of the king; the revolution's leaders Danton, Desmoulins, Robespierre, Saint-Just-all cut down by the reign of terror they inaugurated; Napoleon's meteoric rise-from provincial Corsican military student to emperor and commander of the largest army in history; Napoleon's fall-his army's destruction in the snows of Russia, his exile to Elba, his escape and reconquest of the throne, and his ultimate defeat at Waterloo by the combined forces of Europe; the birth of Romanticism and the dawning of a new age of active democracy and a rising middle class, laying the foundation for a new era. |PrefaceBook One: The French Revolution, 1789-99Book Two: Napoleon Ascendant, 1799-1811Book Three: Britain, 1789-1812Book Four: The Challenged Kings, 1789-1812Part Five: Finale, 1811-1815.… (more)
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» See also 5 mentions

Showing 1-5 of 10 (next | show all)
Classic Durant. Exhaustively detailed, delightfully opinionated. ( )
  Huba.Library | Feb 5, 2024 |
Before reading this volume I thought Napoleon had a sterling reputation. When I was finished I thought he was overrated. He was charming, extremely intelligent, organized and over ambitious.

Most of the good Napoleon accomplished is tarnished with blood of the dead. ( )
  cakecop | Dec 26, 2019 |
Tedious reading, too much detail that doesn't matter. Just around in time--you need to know the history before reading this or it doesn’t make sense ( )
  ShadowBarbara | Jan 27, 2017 |
Classic Durant. Exhaustively detailed, delightfully opinionated. Read it in pieces and if you're feeling a bit sleepy, don't even bother. ( )
  kaitanya64 | Jan 3, 2017 |
if you have space for only one book on Napoleon, or the history of Europe during his lifetime, this is it. It's a thick book, but it has an immense amount to say.
This book demonstrates the power of chronology over the historical mind, because in the late 1920's, following his very successful "A History of Philosophy", Will Durant though t he'd write a book on Napoleon. Well, it became obvious that he'd have to start somewhat earlier than Napoleon if he wanted to explain Bonaparte, and thus the eleven volume "Story of Civilization" was begun. This is the last volume, published fifty years after the original idea forced its way to the surface. And you can't get a better survey of the history of Europe and the Middle east than this series. There's a notable quote in every paragraph, and thousands of insights on many topics. Excluding the very disappointing first Volume, that no one should bother with, every book is definitive between it's parameters. In a sense, this book is the Encyclopedia of Western Civilization. There are a lot of second hand sets floating around, get one. ( )
2 vote DinadansFriend | Jul 10, 2015 |
Showing 1-5 of 10 (next | show all)
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» Add other authors (1 possible)

Author nameRoleType of authorWork?Status
Will Durantprimary authorall editionscalculated
Durant, Arielmain authorall editionsconfirmed
Adams, AlexanderNarratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
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France was the most populous and prosperous nation in Europe.
Quotations
"All that is possessed by them that have more than their proportional part in the goods of society is held by theft and usurpation; it is therefore just to take it from them. The man who proves that by his own strength he can earn or do as much as four others is none the less in conspiracy against society, because he destroys the equilibrium and . . . precious equality. Social instruction must progress to the point where they deprive everyone of the hope of ever becoming richer, or more powerful, or more distinguished by his enlightenment and his talents. Discord is better than a horrid concord in which hunger strangles one. Let us go back to chaos, and from chaos let a new regenerated earth emerge."
"Three hostile newspapers are more to be feared than a thousand bayonets"
opinions individually and privately expressed might do little harm, but . . . the same opinions when put into the mouth of a famous historical character, and proclaimed from the stage with the force and eloquence of a popular actor, would have an influence explosively multiplied by the mutual reverberation of feelings - and by the irresponsibility of individuals - in a theatrical audience.
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An engrossing volume on European civilization by Pulitzer Prize-winning historians Will and Ariel DurantThe Age of Napoleon, the eleventh and final volume of the Story of Civilization, surveys the amazing chain of events that wrenched Europe out of the Enlightenment and into the age of democracy. In this masterful work, listeners will encounter the French Revolution-from the storming of the Bastille to the guillotining of the king; the revolution's leaders Danton, Desmoulins, Robespierre, Saint-Just-all cut down by the reign of terror they inaugurated; Napoleon's meteoric rise-from provincial Corsican military student to emperor and commander of the largest army in history; Napoleon's fall-his army's destruction in the snows of Russia, his exile to Elba, his escape and reconquest of the throne, and his ultimate defeat at Waterloo by the combined forces of Europe; the birth of Romanticism and the dawning of a new age of active democracy and a rising middle class, laying the foundation for a new era. |PrefaceBook One: The French Revolution, 1789-99Book Two: Napoleon Ascendant, 1799-1811Book Three: Britain, 1789-1812Book Four: The Challenged Kings, 1789-1812Part Five: Finale, 1811-1815.

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