Alexander of Russia: Napoleon's Conqueror (Grove Great Lives Series) [Paperback]

Henri Troyat (Author)

Book Description

Series: Grove Great Lives Series | Publication Date: January 24, 2003

In Paris and London, the crowds hailed him as the man who had conquered Napoleon, as the liberator of Europe, and as a benevolent, enlightened monarch. At home he came to be feared as a reactionary, oppressive autocrat in a country where millions of serfs were still treated as little more than personal property. A grandson of Catherine the Great, a conspirator in the assassination of his own father, and an idealistic and ineffective participant at the Congress of Vienna, Alexander was torn all his life between his liberal illusions and the hard realities of autocratic Russia. In a brilliant biography of one of the most unorthodox of Russia's tsars, Henri Troyat -- winner of the Prix Populiste and the coveted Prix Goncourt -- delivers a masterful portrait of Europe during a momentous period in its modern history. "[Troyat's] broad-brush narrative restores to center stage important personalities and their interplay in the politics of the era." -- James H. Billington, The New York Times Book Review "[A] briskly moving, richly illustrated, flesh-and-blood portrait." -- Publishers Weekly "Troyat's biography of Alexander ... turns out to be more enthralling than most of the novels I've read lately." -- Pamela Marsh, The Christian Science Monitor

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Troyat, the French biographer of Tolstoy and Gogol, turns his attention here to Alexander I, the young, liberal czar who in later years became a religious recluse, muzzled journalists, increased police surveillance and felt disenchanted and melancholy even after defeating Napoleon. Troyat demonstrates that Alexander drowned himself in the cause of empire in order to forget the patricide that brought him to power. PW called this a "briskly moving, richly illustrated, flesh-and-blood portrait."
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: French

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Grove Press (January 24, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0802139493
• ISBN-13: 978-0802139498
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #199,252 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #81 in Books > History > Military > Napoleonic Wars

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Man who beat Napoleon Revealed. Great Biography, October 21, 2005

By 

Robert E. Murena Jr. "tedmurena" (Fairfield, CT United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Alexander of Russia: Napoleon's Conqueror (Grove Great Lives Series) (Paperback)

Henri Troyat's "Alexander of Russia" stands as one of the best accounts of the life of the man who beat Napoleon and helped restore peace to Europe. In the Early 19th century Alexander was rivaled only Napoleon in terms of esteem yet today men like the Prussian general Blucher Furst von Metternich and lord Wellington seem to get far more recognition in our modern histories. Perhaps this is because Alexander was a Russian but perhaps it is because we don't know exactly how to feel about this sovereign who wavered between enlightened despot ruling by divine right, religious man and liberal thinker. These things all seem incongruous for a single man let alone a ruler of the largest country of Europe. Troyat's work helps illustrate the man and also helps us to reconcile the man who helped to define 19th century politics and geography.

The book reads much like the life of Alexander. In the early part of the book it is centered around how Catherine the Great felt about her grandson and the political climate during her reign and the reign of her son Paul. This portion is rather dull from a literary standpoint although necessary to understanding the man. In these years he is taught by French enlightenment thinker Laharpe who helps mold Alexander's liveral sentiments. In 1801 when Paul is murdered to the period of the Congress of Vienna the book takes a much more active tone and is written brilliantly. Alexander naturally fel some amount of shame for his fathers murder although he only had implied responsibility for it. Alexander's interaction with Napoleon at Tilsit is very interesting and the account of Napoleon's Russian campaign is very well done. Further the Allied advance on Paris, led by an Alexander who felt that god was impelling him to act, too is great. Troyat uses just the correct amount of quotes to make the work scholarly and yet readable. After the Congress of Vienna, Alexander becomes even more religious and the book takes a less enjoyable style during these later years.

Overall I found this work to be highly useful and very enjoyable. It provides a great insight into the Napoleonic era from the Russian perspective which is relatively rare. Troyat writes in a straight forward manner and is able to cover a very eventful life in only 300 pages. Highly recommended.

Ted Murena

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brian Wayne Wells, Esquire, reviews Alexander of Russia, February 28, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Alexander of Russia: Napoleon's Conqueror (Paperback)

Henri Troyat's "Alexander of Russia" (1980)serves as a nice sequel to his "Catherine the Great" (1977). Alexander I, Emporer of all the Russias (1801-1825) succeeded Catherine the Great (1762-1796) to the throne of the Russian Empire separated only by the brief reign of Alexander's father, Paul (1796-1801). Troyat's presentation of Alexander is a wonderful, vivid portrait of man known to history as the "enigmatic Tsar." Alexander had been provided an "enlightenment education" by his grandmother Catherine the Great. He had a fondness for liberty and a hatred of despotism and serfdom. Yet Alexander was frustrated in his hopes for reform of the Russian nation throughout the entirety of his reign.

Napoleon came to power in France and proceeded to conquer much of Europe. Suddenly, France, the traditional ally of the Russian Empire was an enemy. Napoleon invaded Russia in 1812 but was defeated. Alexander then played a major role in the restoration of Europe following the Napoleonic Wars. Meanwhile, reform was postponed.

Troyat has a lively writing style that holds the interests of the reader all way to the end of the book.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating Biographical And Political Insights By A Brilliant Author, January 17, 2008

By 

Don J. Voss "American Vet" (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Alexander of Russia: Napoleon's Conqueror (Grove Great Lives Series) (Paperback)

This is a book you can get totally into. The author has the ability to insert conversations into a historically authentic narative that are not only believable but are probably remarkably close to what was actually said. I have immersed myself into different passages over and over, it is that good. You will not only learn history from the Russian perspective, and about Czar Alexander, you will better understand modern politics. I believe the czar spoke for many politicians when he said a leader must do many things that the heart condemns. As a bonus, you get an excellent take on Napolean as well. The author, Henri Troyat, has yet another winner
in his long string of books. I also recommend Catherine the Great (Alexander's grandmother) and Peter the Great. Especially Peter the Great. Prepare to be shocked and amazed by Peter. He may have been the first "Communist", because he believed in putting the state first before the individual with a vengeance. Eminent Domain could have been started by this guy.