Customer Reviews

The Age of Napoleon

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This is a dated but still effective general survey of the period and the man. Contrary to what is claimed in some of the reviews, it is not particularly anti-Napoleon, especially compared to some more recent works, such as the big biography by Schom, which virtually boils over with hatred for Napoleon. Herold wants to admire Napoleon, but can't quite forgive him for his faults. The result is pretty balanced. Also,unless you've got a 4th grade reading level, this isn't that hard to read -- my students prefer it to the well-known Markham biography. Highly recommended as an introduction to the Napoleonic Age. The illustrated Horizon version might be even better as an intro because of the visuals. Herold also compiled The Mind of Napoleon -- a collection of Nap's words and writings for those who really want to get a feel for what made the Emperor tick.

Herold approaches Napoleon in a very different manner, if compared to other authors. While it is true he does not concentrate on military strategy or on the battles per se, he gives us a very clear view of what was going on around in Napoleonic times.

This history book concentrates more on ideas than on anything else. You're given a picture of what was happening all around the world, at least from an ideological perspective.

I also find it quite usefull that he dedicates separate chapters to the different empires (Prussia, Russia, Spain, Britain....), so the book is not simply a chronological set of events. He is not afraid to go back in time to let us understand a particular subject, and then in the next chapter go back in time again, but concentrating on a different matter.

The book can't be considered too easy to read, but then again, it's not a novel, it's a pretty complete history of Napoleonic Europe. As a matter of fact it's probably the best one I have gotten my hands on.

The book is very well documented, and it goes into a bit of detail when explaining the sources so you come out with a basic knowledge not only of who wrote what about Napoleon, but much more importantly WHY.

The last part is a summary of what happened after Napoleon, in the times of Napoleon II and Napoleon III, which I also found useful. It helps you situate Napoleon within the history of France.

Overall, it's an excellent book and I would recommend it for people who want a good insight into the age of Napoleon.

Covers Napolean's campaigns and attempts to describe something of the world in which Napolean, his enemies and his allies operated. Each campaign is covered by a separate chapter with references to other events that were taking place simultaneously.

Some overgeneralization of national character of various European peoples.

Still...an enlightening treatise of how Napolean shaped the modern identity of Europe and ushered in other changes in the nineteenth century, particularly for Germany, Italy and Spain.

Before reading this, I never did know the whole story about Napoleon, even after reading War and Peace and visiting his grandiose tomb in Paris on several occasions -- a must-see, right up there near Graceland.

This is a great book for anyone who wants to know who Napoleon was, what he did, and why it mattered. I'm sure there are better, more drawn-out, academic and specific books out there, and maybe I'll end up disagreeing with the author's inclination that there is a certain villainy in Napoleon's climbing the ladder of power until he could take over as much of the world as possible, but I don't see that as far-fetched at this point.

This is not hard to read at all -- it flows well, and is just long, compared to some books. In the end, you'll have the overall picture, all the major players and all the background you need to talk about Napoleon and find out more.

This is the very first book about the Napoleon I've read. I picked it among other similar works solely because it was avilable in the local bookstore and I read about it here.

The author offers a balanced view of great French leader. He puts Napoleon in his natural surrounding of Europe on the verge of modern era. Despite criticism aimed at Napoleon's actions, the author shows how Napoleon's fellow heads of state weren't any better than him, only less known (or successful).

The thing I liked in the book is that it covered not only the main events that are already known to the general public but also the affairs outside Europe (USA, India) or on the periphery of the main theatre (Balkans). There is one chapter entirely dedicated to the philosophers of the era which I found interesting, but too long and little boring by the end.

The reason I gave only three, rather than four stars is that author shows his general ignorance of the military matters and tries to cover it by neglecting the battles as much as possible. It is inappropriate in my opinion to write a critical biography of one of the greatest generals in the history of mankind and then neglect the field where the subject of the biography was the most successful. It's like writing a biography of Einstein with emphasis on the Einstein's character with few remarks about physics.

I would not reccomend "Age of Napoleon" as the first book to be read about French Emperor, if anything, it should be accompanied by some other work with more emphasis on the military operations since fighting battles was what Napoleon did best and what made him a subject worth of studying.

This is not a perfect book. That the author doesn't think Napoleon should be deified, however, is no reason to malign it--online or anywhere else. In fact, Herold presents a convincing picture of "Napoleonic" Europe. Besides characterizing Napoleon, his adversaries, and a whole supporting cast, the author portrays the economy, politics, and culture of the times.

There is some oversimplification in Herold's book, and some of his conclusions may be open to debate. All good historians take some risks. But this book is a thoroughly researched and well written introduction to an important era in Western history. It certainly deserves to be read.

Herold took on a very difficult task when he wrote this survey of the Napoleonic age. At 450 pages, it may seem expansive, but each chapter could easily be expanded into a book that long. For example, Herold himself wrote a (very entertaining and now out-of-print) 350-page book on Napolean's Egyptian expedition; in "The Age of Napolean," the same expedition merits only 19 pages. In addition, Napolean's military campaigns are largely glossed over, the intellectual milieu of the time is subject to a very perfunctory review, and so on.

However, this is a survey, and therefore only an introduction. And, as far as surveys go, it's a pretty good one. It's well written, briskly paced, and entertainingly opinionated (Herold is no admirer of Napolean) - in other words, it's interesting. It should encourage readers to learn more about the Napoleanic era - in my mind, the mark of a good survey.

The Age of Napoleon, The Horizon Book of, J. Christopher Herold; American Heritage Pub. Co. (1963 "& renewed 1991"; re-issued in 2002 by "Mariner Books")


Foolishly, I persevered & wasted time finishing Bryan Burrough's God-awful "Vendetta" (see).

I then immediately needed something well-written to get the taste of the disreputable American Express & idiosyncratic Edmund Safra out of my mouth & memory. I grabbed AON, which I had read for the first time just prior to the Vendetta odyssey, & read it again.

It worked, on the second reading, I realized that Herold is the ("unherolded" & presumably, forgotten) equal of William Manchester, Robert Massie, Robert McCullough, & Alan Schom.

These are the books that my mother brought home from work that I unconditionally fell in love with as a very small boy. They had standards (as opposed to today, when too many writers & publishers are recklessly driving in the express lane of their demise).

And the art work is as spectacular as the writing is superb.

Another great Lyrical Ballad discovery (in Saratoga Springs).

PN: Years later, having forgotten the title but crisply remembering the author's name, I jumped like a terrier at an airborne bone when Amazon laid the trap. I now own two copies of AON - the 2nd, the "Mariner Books" edition - a paperback with cheap & unfamiliar & poorly reproduced black & white illustrations, which may be copies of the beautiful full-color, hard cover originals.

A very readable and enjoyable book and makes for a good introduction to Napoleon. It neither glorifies not crucifies him. What is amazing about the man is the young age at which he attained power, particularly given his peasant background. He was ruling much of Europe in his early thirties. Also many of his battles were only fought with 100,000 to 200,000 soldiers and his invasion of Russia with 250,000 to 300,000.

Napoleon's aim was more to subjugate by treaties than by annihilation. He was no Genghis Khan or Hitler - but knew how to cajole and use power to dominate by treaties. While his troops were abusive (in Spain and Russia), the governments eventually established in Italy, Germany and Spain were no more liberal or democratic then the proxy regimes put up by Napoleon.

The inevitable comparisons with Hitler can be made. Napoleon was not filled with hatred like Hitler. His sole purpose was to dominate or lead. He did not have an ideological agenda that hemmed him in. The pre-Napoleonic was dominated by aristocratic-monarchy states. The post-Napoleonic world was made up of nation-states - France, Germany, Italy, and Russia.

I am truly in love with this book. It is excellently written and immaculate in design and execution. This will give you the general picture of Napoleon and who he was.