Alan Forrest

A short profile version of the life of this major historical figure with focus leaning to his political influence and stature in Europe during this tumultuous period. No doubt Napoleon is remembered as one of the most influential in history but falling short of greatness through the destruction he visited upon so many.

The rise of these types throughout history are interesting studies in how one individual can sway so many through personal traits and use of guile and focus. No doubt as show more illustrated in this book few could out do this man. And the tragedy as shown here is that it is founded on militarism and destruction. Yet so many followed willingly by the promise of glory and power and that says a lot about human nature.

The book is a fast paced overview of the rise to power and the turning point into decline and exile. Much focus is on the political gamesmanship that went on. Not as much coverage over the historic battles that led to his pinnacle of power and ultimate defeat.

The unnerving aspect on conclusion is that on death in exile and his triumphant return to France for enshrined burial he is once again raised to hero stature in the eyes of the French. A man who cost so many so much and the price paid in lives lost is a sad testimony indeed, and unfortunately we see this played out in political leadership to this day. show less

Very nice prose.

Interesting chapter on the motivations behind the return of Napoleon's ashes in 1840. Very heroic biography.

The book criticizes Napoleon's quest for absolute power and his progressive use of his entourage to function as a court as well as his transformation from fighting general to politician and his influence on society, laws and the Arts. It does comment on how the parliament is reduced to an endorsement role and how election results were likely to have been manipulated to show more confirm a majority in favor of Napoleon.

Where this short book could have been more developed is for instance when speaking of the 18th Brumaire year VII (9 November 1799) Coup d'Etat and narrating that returning from Egypt, Napoleon found the preparation of this Coup already well under way. Yet the reader would like to know more: Who were the plotters, their financial backers, since when had they met, were there different strategies? The role of Abbe Sieyes is not really developed.

The controversial Joseph Fouche who adopted the cannon as a mode of execution because he thought the guillotine was too slow presented by the author as a mild mannered family man may be an understatement if you want to believe Stefan Zweig. His repression of innocent Jacobins after the attempt on Napoleon's life rue Saint Nicaise tends to show him under quite a different light. More convincing is when he speaks about how the bomb placed on the passage of Napoleon's carriage rue St Nicaise near the Opera, enabled him to launch a repression and deportation decree against the last Jacobins who it turned out, were not responsible for this incident plotted by Royalists with England's money. The role of Fouche is also too summarily developed as well as the motivations of Napoleon for restauring slavery with the support of men like Fouche and the sugar industry. I recommend reading Stefan Zweig's historical essay over Fouche to understand better the politics that brought Napoleon to power.

At times the author speaks of the people as an anonymous entity which fate is too be manipulated by men like Napoleon and his associates through the use of artfully composed propaganda literature.

Also interesting is Mr. Forrest's description of how the Egyptian expedition paves the way for France's future colonial interventions with the mixture of war, propaganda and civilisation as a mission/justificatiion for the war.

This book is a good summary of Napoleon's life but lacks at times the necessary intuitions that could make it a more breakthrough representation of this complex character. show less

This book provides an interpretation of the French Revolution thatis both thematic and accessible to the general reader. Thediscussion includes an analysis of the historiography of thesubject, and reviews the range of literature produced around therecent Bicentenary. Insisting that the French Revolution had animportant social dimension, Alan Forrest demonstrates that therevolutionaries, even the most extreme of them, were committed toan ordered society. He argues that in destroying the show more politicalinstitutions and the corporate structures of the Ancien Regime,they were conscious of the need to invent a new order of their own,one that would be consistent with their ideology. Chapters focus on the initial crisis of 1789, on the political andsocial experiments of the revolutionary years, and on the impact ofwar and counter-revolution. The study covers the period up to 1799,looking forward where appropriate to the Napoleonic Empire. Theauthor's succinct and penetrating overview of events ensures thatThe French Revolution will be welcomed by all students ofthis fascinating and turbulent period in European history. show less

Pleasant, perfunctory French revolution history. Like a textbook.