Vincent Cronin (1924–2011)
Author of Napoleon
About the Author
Vincent Cronin (1924-2011) was a British historical, cultural, and biographical writer. Acclaimed as one of the finest popular historians of his generation, he is best known for his two-volume history of the Renaissance and his biographies of Louis XIV, Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, Catherine the show more Great, and Napoleon. show less
Image credit: Vincent Cronin (1924-2011)
Series
Works by Vincent Cronin
Associated Works
Saints and Ourselves, Second Series: Personal Studies of Favorite Saints (1955) — Contributor — 13 copies, 1 review
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Legal name
- Cronin, Vincent Archibald Patrick
- Birthdate
- 1924-05-24
- Date of death
- 2011-01-25
- Gender
- male
- Education
- Harvard College
Trinity College, University of Oxford (BA|1947)
The Sorbonne
Ampleforth - Occupations
- army officer
historian
biographer - Organizations
- British Army (WWII)
- Awards and honors
- W. H. Heinemann Award for Literature (1955)
Rockefeller Foundation Award (1958)
Richard Hillary Award
Royal Society of Literature (Fellow) - Relationships
- Cronin, A. J. (father)
- Short biography
- Vincent Cronin was born in Tredegar, in the Rhondda Valley of Wales, where his father A.J. Cronin was then in private practice as a physician. The family moved to London when Vincent was a toddler, and a few years later his father gave up the practice of medicine to become a full-time writer. Vincent was educated at Ampleforth College before enrolling at Harvard University at age 16. He completed his studies at the Sorbonne and Oxford University, from which he graduated with honors, and served in the British Army during World War II. In 1949, he married Chantal de Rolland, with whom he had five children, and the family divided their time between London, Marbella, and Dragey, in Normandy, France. His first book, The Golden Honeycomb, was published in 1954. Vincent Cronin became best known for his biographies of Louis XIV, Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, Catherine the Great, and Napoleon, as well as for his many books on the Renaissance.
- Nationality
- UK (birth)
- Birthplace
- Tredegar, Wales, UK
- Places of residence
- London, England
Dragey, Avranches, Basse-Normandie, France
Sicily, Italy - Place of death
- Marbella, Spain
Members
Reviews
Toward the end of this biography, Vincent Cronin asks,
If this is true, and Cronin makes a good case that it is, then the fact that Louis XIV's reign stands for little more than the divine right of kings makes him out to be a fairly dull character. This, however, isn't show more Vincent Cronin's fault. If Louis seems to be a slightly tedious character who made war for no other reason than his sense of glory and built Versailles for no other reason than his love of symmetry, don't blame Cronin who all in all has written a very readable biography of a surprisingly insipid monarch. show less
But what, after all, did his [Louis XIV's] reign amount to? What did Louis the Great stand for? Surely not merely for growth and prosperity and patronage? A principle underlay these things: the principle of God-given authority.
If this is true, and Cronin makes a good case that it is, then the fact that Louis XIV's reign stands for little more than the divine right of kings makes him out to be a fairly dull character. This, however, isn't show more Vincent Cronin's fault. If Louis seems to be a slightly tedious character who made war for no other reason than his sense of glory and built Versailles for no other reason than his love of symmetry, don't blame Cronin who all in all has written a very readable biography of a surprisingly insipid monarch. show less
This history shows the truth that contradicts the legends.
These two were victims of circumstance instead of the ignorant fools they have been portrayed as in popular history.
After the megalomaniac Louis XIV and the pleasure seeking Louis XV, these two were painted with the same broad brush. Louis actually tried many reforms to better the lot of his people; and in doing so he angered the nobility. The nobility consequently started a smear campaign to demonize him; they were behind the early show more scandal sheets that made both Louis and Marie Antoinette into the stereotypes that fueled the revolutionary ire.
While it is true that Marie Antoinette was foolish and spendthrift early in their marriage.....she was a teenage girl.....and she behaved like one. Once the marriage was finally consummated and she became a mother, her thoughtlessness and immaturity disappeared. Of course, by then it was too late to stem the bloodthirsty tide.
One wonders what the traitorous nobility thought about their pot-stirring and calumny while awaiting their own doom during the reign of terror. Did they realize how their own actions were the cause of their fate? Those who let loose the ravening beast cannot hope to not be devoured themselves. There was plenty of comeuppance for all, including Robespierre, consumed by the conflagration he fueled.
This book is a lesson in politics, reform and the perfidious nature of humanity that many would do well to read and learn from. show less
These two were victims of circumstance instead of the ignorant fools they have been portrayed as in popular history.
After the megalomaniac Louis XIV and the pleasure seeking Louis XV, these two were painted with the same broad brush. Louis actually tried many reforms to better the lot of his people; and in doing so he angered the nobility. The nobility consequently started a smear campaign to demonize him; they were behind the early show more scandal sheets that made both Louis and Marie Antoinette into the stereotypes that fueled the revolutionary ire.
While it is true that Marie Antoinette was foolish and spendthrift early in their marriage.....she was a teenage girl.....and she behaved like one. Once the marriage was finally consummated and she became a mother, her thoughtlessness and immaturity disappeared. Of course, by then it was too late to stem the bloodthirsty tide.
One wonders what the traitorous nobility thought about their pot-stirring and calumny while awaiting their own doom during the reign of terror. Did they realize how their own actions were the cause of their fate? Those who let loose the ravening beast cannot hope to not be devoured themselves. There was plenty of comeuppance for all, including Robespierre, consumed by the conflagration he fueled.
This book is a lesson in politics, reform and the perfidious nature of humanity that many would do well to read and learn from. show less
Published in 1971 this biography is far from young, yet it would be a pity to pass it over. The thing is, the English historian Vincent Cronin is not only focusing on the great events of the napoleonic saga; he aims in fact to get to grip with who was Napoleon, his personality, the man behind the iconic historical figure. Making him thus more accessible, personal and human, this biography turns indeed to be a must read for anyone interested in the topic.
It's obviously very difficult to be show more without bias when dealing with such a character so, like many other authors, Vincent Cronin of course has his own prejudices. He is (weirdly for an English, LOL!) very partisan.
Napoleon is here presented as a incredible man, patriot, ambitious not only for himself but France as well, and those whole politics reflects a revolutionary ideal out of norm.Whose who share such an opinion will obviously be delighted. However, what makes this book a treasure is that whose rejecting it will love it as much because, with such a view in mind, the way he deals and attempts to explain facts normally considered more than telling (e.g. freedom of opinion and speech, the Russian campaign...) truly deserve a go.
For sure, trying to explain controversial historical events through a difficult to grasp personality is not without risk. He idealises his subject, it's romantic somehow, maybe also naive, but such defects are compensated by a very pleasing and flowing style. In fact, I finished it not with the feeling of having read yet another account of the napoleonic adventure but, with the strong impress of having lived through it all alongside Napoleon himself. That was the goal of the historian. He achieved it brilliantly. show less
It's obviously very difficult to be show more without bias when dealing with such a character so, like many other authors, Vincent Cronin of course has his own prejudices. He is (weirdly for an English, LOL!) very partisan.
Napoleon is here presented as a incredible man, patriot, ambitious not only for himself but France as well, and those whole politics reflects a revolutionary ideal out of norm.Whose who share such an opinion will obviously be delighted. However, what makes this book a treasure is that whose rejecting it will love it as much because, with such a view in mind, the way he deals and attempts to explain facts normally considered more than telling (e.g. freedom of opinion and speech, the Russian campaign...) truly deserve a go.
For sure, trying to explain controversial historical events through a difficult to grasp personality is not without risk. He idealises his subject, it's romantic somehow, maybe also naive, but such defects are compensated by a very pleasing and flowing style. In fact, I finished it not with the feeling of having read yet another account of the napoleonic adventure but, with the strong impress of having lived through it all alongside Napoleon himself. That was the goal of the historian. He achieved it brilliantly. show less
I can’t recall when or if I’ve ever read anything historically factual that was this captivating. Here’s a history book that reads better than a novel. Truly, the life of Louis XIV is described in such vivid details that I couldn’t help being totally absorbed by this book. There is a section dedicated to practically every imaginable aspect of Louis’ life.
Not only are the King’s numerous and lucrative achievements clearly explained throughout; the specifics of his attitude, show more beliefs, mannerisms, thought processes, creativity and more, unfold with such eloquence and sequence, it’s impossible to put this book down. Your curiosity passes from one topic to the other. Before you know it, you’ve read the whole book.
Louis was a King who was completely in his element as ruler of his country. His total and absolute regality was totally natural for him; yet, he had the keenest of abilities for understanding people of all levels.
There are sections dedicated to the important women in his life, filled with the most interesting personal particularities that were an absolute delight for me to read. There is also a section that goes into the minute specifics of a typical day in his life. I was surprised to learn of Louis’ unbelievably huge appetite (there’s a whole section on this too) as well as the whole ordeal of getting the meal to him. Here’s a passage on this:
‘To reach the royal table the King’s dinner had to cross the Rue de la Surintendance, enter the south wing, mount a staircase, pass through several corridors, cross the upper vestibule of the staircase of the princes, the salon of the shopkeepers (Versailles had its own shopping center), the Grand Hall of the guards, the upper vestibule of the marble case and finally the Hall of the King’s Guards.’
Louis was also the brains behind much of the Versailles creation- he was a patron of the arts and was responsible for much of France’s grandeur. There was also a domestic side to Louis as well as a profound devotion to Catholicism; both of these aspects being more prominent towards the latter days of his life.
I learned so much from this fact-filled book! I highly recommend Louis XIV to anyone who is interested in learning more about this great King, his Court, his Ladies, and all that he influenced throughout history. This historical read surpassed all expectations. Excellent!
- show less
Not only are the King’s numerous and lucrative achievements clearly explained throughout; the specifics of his attitude, show more beliefs, mannerisms, thought processes, creativity and more, unfold with such eloquence and sequence, it’s impossible to put this book down. Your curiosity passes from one topic to the other. Before you know it, you’ve read the whole book.
Louis was a King who was completely in his element as ruler of his country. His total and absolute regality was totally natural for him; yet, he had the keenest of abilities for understanding people of all levels.
There are sections dedicated to the important women in his life, filled with the most interesting personal particularities that were an absolute delight for me to read. There is also a section that goes into the minute specifics of a typical day in his life. I was surprised to learn of Louis’ unbelievably huge appetite (there’s a whole section on this too) as well as the whole ordeal of getting the meal to him. Here’s a passage on this:
‘To reach the royal table the King’s dinner had to cross the Rue de la Surintendance, enter the south wing, mount a staircase, pass through several corridors, cross the upper vestibule of the staircase of the princes, the salon of the shopkeepers (Versailles had its own shopping center), the Grand Hall of the guards, the upper vestibule of the marble case and finally the Hall of the King’s Guards.’
Louis was also the brains behind much of the Versailles creation- he was a patron of the arts and was responsible for much of France’s grandeur. There was also a domestic side to Louis as well as a profound devotion to Catholicism; both of these aspects being more prominent towards the latter days of his life.
I learned so much from this fact-filled book! I highly recommend Louis XIV to anyone who is interested in learning more about this great King, his Court, his Ladies, and all that he influenced throughout history. This historical read surpassed all expectations. Excellent!
- show less
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- Rating
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