Napoleon

By: H.A.L. Fisher

Narrated by: Charlton Griffin

Between 1796 and 1815, the continent of Europe was held in thrall by one of the most remarkable personalities of modern times, a man whose name was on the lips of every man, woman, and child: Napoleon Bonaparte. Certainly, one would have to go back to the time of Charlemagne to find his equal on the field of battle, in the halls of diplomacy, or in the courts of jurisprudence.

Napoleon not only remade France, he remade it to suit his own personal preferences. Although not himself a revolutionary, Napoleon was nevertheless determined to wipe away the stultifying remnants of the ancient regime once and for all and to replace it with a society firmly grounded on republican principles...at least outwardly. The fact of the matter was, Napoleon played the role of a tyrant. And although he spoke on behalf of the common man, his ultimate bequest to the people of France was a prolonged war stretching from the Iberian peninsula to the streets of Moscow, from the farmland of Holland to the Nile River, and leaving behind the greatest carnage ever known up to that time. His wars were terrifying. And yet, we are still fascinated to this day by the incredible energy, resourcefulness, and sheer brilliance of his military strategy.

With precision and panache, H. A. L. Fisher has written the definitive short biography of Napoleon, a book still treasured by historians and scholars to this day, and a work that still holds a prominent place in any bibliography of the Corsican. Written only 97 years after Waterloo, this classic biography remains the best of its type: a succinct, concise portrait of an egotistical genius whose powerful will directed the course of world events for an entire generation. Even to this day, the name Napoleon still gives rise to conflicting emotions.

©2004 Audio Connoisseur

Can't Audible Find a GOOD book on Napoleon?

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

A lot less overacting. It's a book, not a documentary video. Another reader might have helped--maybe the guy who read the book Making Rounds with Oscar.

Would you be willing to try another one of Charlton Griffin’s performances?

ABSOLUTELY NOT! I expect I shall have nightmares for some time about this reader--decked in full British General's regalia--holding forth on the dangerous Bonaparte.

What character would you cut from Napoleon?

The story of Napoleon is not at fault. History IS--or was.

For Well Researched Enthusiasts

This was great factually but not a pictoral biography of Napoleon's personality. If you are not acquianted with Napoleonic history... this will be difficult to digest as there is little context to the significance or context of events just a mere account of said events.

It's Like Reading Carlyle

The rolling periods and circumlocutions of the writing give this biography an old-fashioned narrative flow that is difficult to follow. It is like hearing a reading of Thomas Carlyle on the French Revolution. The enthusiasm of the writer comes through, and devotées of the matter will have no trouble paying attention; but if you don't know the basic story already, this biography of Napoleon will be hard going.

I'm sorry that Audible does not have a better, short biography available. The one by Vincent Cronin would be very suitable and accessible for the casual listener.

Disappointing

Disappointing overall. The book is largely focused on the dry facts of Napoleon's life with little insight into the inside workings of the man.

good but somehow light book on Napoleon

the book is a good one but in my opinion neither and historical solid book (facts) neither a good biography. to me it seems in between the two which makes it somehow shallow.