Synopses & Reviews
A magisterial account of the wars that engulfed Europe during the rise and fall of Napoleon.
No military figure in history has been quite as polarizing as Napoleon Bonaparte. Was he a monster, driven by an endless, ruinous quest for military glory? Or a social and political visionary brought down by petty, reactionary kings of Europe? In the definitive account to date, respected historian Charles Esdaile argues that the chief motivating factor for Napoleon was his insatiable desire for fame. More than a myth-busting portrait of Napoleon, however, this volume offers a panoramic view of the armed conflicts that spread so quickly out of revolutionary France to countries as remote as Sweden and Egypt. Napoleons Wars seeks to answer the question, What was it that made the countries of Europe fight one another for so long and with such devastating results? Esdaile portrays the European battles as the consequence of rulers who were willing to take the immense risks of either fighting or supporting Napoleonrisks that resulted in the extinction of entire countries. This is history writing equal to its subjectgrand and ambitiousthat will join Vikings impressive backlist of European history titles, such as Tim Blannings The Pursuit of Glory and Diarmaid MacCullochs The Reformation.
Review
Deft, authoritative, often strikingly counter-intuitive, this is the definitive word on the subject.
--Telegraph (London)
Review
"[A] masterly account of the Napoleonic wars . . . Makes the familiar story fresh."
-The Economist
"A joy to read . . . Attractive, well written and, on occasion, pleasantly idiosyncratic . . . A splendid book."
-Literary Review
"Deft, authoritative, often strikingly counterintuitive, this is the definitive word on the subject."
-Telegraph (UK), Books of the Year
Synopsis
Noted historian Esdaile argues that the chief motivating factor for Napoleon was his insatiable desire for fame. More than a mythbusting portrait of Napoleon, however, this volume offers a panoramic view of the armed conflicts that spread so quickly out of revolutionary France.
Synopsis
A glorious?and conclusive?chronicle of the wars waged by one of the most polarizing figures in military historyAcclaimed on both sides of the Atlantic as a new standard on the subject, this sweeping, boldly written history of the Napoleonic era reveals its central protagonist as a man driven by an insatiable desire for fame, and determined ?to push matters to extremes.? More than a myth-busting portrait of Napoleon, however, it offers a panoramic view of the armed conflicts that spread so quickly out of revolutionary France to countries as remote as Sweden and Egypt. As it expertly moves through conflicts from Russia to Spain, Napoleon?s Wars proves to be history writing equal to its subject?grand and ambitious?that will reframe the way this tumultuous era is understood.
About the Author
Charles Esdaile is senior lecturer in history at the University of Liverpool. He is the author of several books on history, including The Peninsular War, The Wars of Napoleon, The French Wars 17921815, and Spain in the Liberal Age.