Customer Reviews

Napoleon's Road to Glory

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When I received a review copy of David Markham's new book, I was reluctant to read it.  My first thoughts were with over 250,000 books on the man and the era, what could justify spending my time reading a book that so many others have covered so well already? I then thought about what I really wanted in a book about Napoleon - something that would be easy to read, covers all the important facts, and so well organized I could use it as a general reference book.  I am happy to report that Mr. Markham delivers all of these and more!

"Napoleon's Road to Glory" is organized chronologically into six parts, plus a prologue and an epilogue.  Each part covers a different period of Napoleon's life: the Revolution, the Consulate, his glory years (1805 - 1809), his years of missteps (the Continental Blockade, Spain, and Russia), his downfall (1813 - 1815), and exile. Each section consists of several chapters that cover a different topic.  For example in the section titled "A Republican Emperor," there are chapters on why Napoleon declared himself emperor; on his victories over the Austrians, Russians, and Prussians; the domestic reforms he made at home (such as education and religion); his love life; and his need to set up a dynasty so that his accomplishments would be carried on after his death.  Although the chapters are relatively short and can easily be read in a 15 minute sitting,
each is packed with relevant information and provides a superb summary of the salient points.  Those looking for a quick reference book will be pleased by its logical organization and detailed index - both of which permits the reader to find information quickly

"Napoleon's Road to Glory" is written from a decidedly pro-napoleon perspective.  Mr. Markham promotes the idea that Napoleon was a man of peace and was forced by his enemies into the many wars.  This is, however, not a military history of Napoleon.  Napoleon's campaigns and battles are covered only briefly. The book's focus is on how Napoleon came to power, how he ruled, and his long term, non-military achievements- such as the Code Napoleon, re-forming the education system, and re-building the French economic infrastructure.

Yet the author does not avoid the many controversies that have surrounded the man, including among others, the massacre of the Turkish prisoners-of-war and the execution of the Duke d'Enghien. Nor does Mr. Markham gloss over Napoleon's blunders.  One section is devoted to his three major mistakes: the Continental System (i.e., the closing of the European markets to Great Britain), the invasion and subsequent quagmire in Spain, and the disastrous invasion of Russia in 1812.  He also turns a very critical eye towards the errors Napoleon made during the Waterloo Campaign. The book ends with a brief look at Napoleon's exile on Saint Helena.  It addresses his treatment by the British and provides updated information on whether or not he was murdered.

"Napoleon's Road to Glory" is fast paced and a great read.  Mr. Markham has the ability to take dry facts and spin a tale that will hold the interest of the most jaded reader.  It is a welcomed balance to what seems to be an increasing number of anti-Napoleon biographies being published.

Napoleon's Road to Glory is a well-written and well-researched biography that could easily replace Felix Markham's classic biography of the French emperor to become the new standard biography of Napoleon I. One important way that David Markham, unlike the earlier Markham, improves upon the presentation of the older biography is by supplying numerous endnotes that provide readers with reference points for future research into certain key and fascinating aspects of Napoleon's compelling life. Moreover, David Markham's book does not suffer from the problems of obvious authorial bias that plague books such as Alan Schom's Napoleon Bonaparte.
I am especially pleased to see that he included sections on Napoleon's religious policies and vision of European unity (highlighted even more in his Napoleon for Dummies), as well as comparisons of Napoleon to earlier leaders like Alexander the Great. David Markham provides an overview of Napoleon's settlement with the Catholic Church, including an overview of the background of the situation inherited by Napoleon before Markham addresses how Napoleon sought to resolve the religious divisions of the French Revolution. Moreover, Markham, who bases most of his material on Napoleon and the Jews from Ben Weider's work, explains that Napoleon's proclamation declaring Palestine an independent Jewish state even served as part of David Ben Gurion's argument that the United Nations should recognize Israel in 1947, roughly one hundred and fifty years after Napoleon planned to issue his proclamation! Markham reminds us that Napoleon was after many kinds of peace: domestic, foreign, and religious.
Napoleon reopened the University of Pavia and granted its professors liberal stipends. In 1808, he created the Academic Palms as a reward for excellence in teaching. In Napoleon's Road to Glory, Markham describes Napoleon's improvements to Paris and other cities in France, Italy, and Switzerland as a parallel to the public works projects initiated by Julius Caesar. David Markham seconds Geoffrey Ellis's designation as the consular period as a Pax Napoleonica. As Markham puts it, if Napoleon "were Caesar, then the Consulate was his Pax Romana even in the years when there was no actual peace." Markham adds that some "consider the Consulate to have been something of a golden age of French culture . . ."
The what if?'s of history also abound in this book, as does the logic behind Napoleon's foreign policy. Readers learn, for example, that a report published "by Colonel Sébastiani . . . suggested that France could easily retake Egypt" and Markham explains Napoleon`s desire to keep the Belgian departments, because much "of Belgium is French-speaking and had always been seen as a potential part of France." And imagine the consequences had Napoleon married a Russian bride and managed to avoid invading the Russian Empire in the year following the appearance of the above quotation! Instead, the Franco-Russian alliance rapidly collapsed in such an extreme fashion that in a proclamation to his troops in 1812, Tsar Alexander cited "difference of religion" as one of the reasons why Russian peasants now consider themselves as Napoleon's "irreconcilable enemies." What is more, the king of Naples turned on Napoleon following Napoleon's defeat at Leipzig in 1813, because Marshal Murat "feared that Napoleon had expressed a resolution to . . . incorporate Naples with the kingdom of Italy."
I have graded many history assignments in my academic career at two universities and were I to assign a grade to this impressive volume, I would overwhelmingly give the book a solid A+!

It is so difficult to say something new and original about Napoleon, but in Napoleon's Road to Glory David Markham has given the man and the events a totally original and new spin that is a veritable tour de force. His prose is exciting, like bursts of gunfire, on the run, rather than the long-winded orations too often found in historical writing. The book is well-written, well-researched and especially easy to read. It sounds like a pleasant conversation between friends and not thunder and lightening from a pulpit! Markham knows how to keep his audience's attention and the story flows smoothly without the usual ups and downs. He asks the right questions and gives excellent answers and explanations. Napoleon's Road to Glory is a most impressive accomplishment!

Prince Gregory Troubetzkoy
Fellow, International Napoleonic Society
Author, In the Service of the Tsar: The Memoirs of Denis Davidov

Along with lots of publications on Napoleon and his time currently on the market, this is very good analysis and scientific approach to the subject. What is most important, the book is written in very easy language, and it is a pleasure to read. Mr. Markham has definitely done his homework; his source table is very extensive and useful for further references. More importantly, the author supplemented his research with actual documents and artifacts from his own collection, which is rare in this days and therefore more valid. I would like to recommend this book to anyone interested in Napoleon and his times - moreover it would be nice to bring it over to as many readers as possible and perhaps to translate it to other languages.
This book should be at every Napoleonic scholar library!

Napoleon Bonaparte is one of the compelling figures in the annals of history. Thousands of books have been written about the man, his contemporaries and the events that were shaped by his life. David Markham now presents us with a compelling biography of the man who rose from lesser Corsican nobility to become the Emperor of the French. He was both loved and hated in his own time, and historians and writers over the past two hundred years have found it most difficult, if not impossible, to be objective in their approach to the man and the period of history that he dominated.

Markham has written a good concise biography of Napoleon that is historically accurate and captures the essence of the man. He is fundamentally sympathetic with respect to his subject without being totally seduced by the legends that have grown up about the "Great Man." While praising his accomplishments on the battlefield, his organizational abilities, the foresight of the "Napoleonic" Code and his tolerance of the Islam and the Arab population on his Egyptian Campaign, etc., Markham is also quick to criticize his weaknesses and mistakes.

Napoleon's Road to Glory is much more than a military biography of Napoleon. Markham has produced a well-rounded picture of the man: the general, the lawgiver, the administrator and the lover. The author's insight into Napoleon's relationships with his family, Josephine, his marshals and members of his court provide interesting and enjoyable reading. The book is well written and contains a good bibliography of primary and secondary sources. The extensive index makes it easy for the reader to find information on individuals and events. It will be enjoyable reading for anyone interested in the Napoleonic era.

Jerry Gallaher, President
Napoleon Alliance
Author, The Iron Marshal

It is so difficult to say something new and original about Napoleon, but in Napoleon's Road to Glory David Markham has given the man and the events a totally original and new spin that is a veritable tour de force. His prose is exciting, like bursts of gunfire, on the run, rather than the long-winded orations too often found in historical writing. The book is well-written, well-researched and especially easy to read. It sounds like a pleasant conversation between friends and not thunder and lightening from a pulpit! Markham knows how to keep his audience's attention and the story flows smoothly without the usual ups and downs. He asks the right questions and gives excellent answers and explanations. Napoleon's Road to Glory is a most impressive accomplishment!

Prince Gregory Troubetzkoy
Fellow, International Napoleonic Society
Author, In the Service of the Tsar: The Memoirs of Denis Davidov

The most enjoyable and concise bio of Napoleon I've yet to read.Impressive knowledge of detail beyond military events. Very good illustrations, many from author's personal collection. Excellant overview of the life of this most fascinating historical figure. Floyd McRae, Col., USAF, {Ret}. Napoleonic Alliance

David Markham has written a wonderfully descriptive book that is great fun to read; I couldn't put it down. This fine work effortlessly interweaves Napoleon's life as a political figure/ruler with his adventures and conquests on the battlefield and in the bedroom. "Napoleon's Road to Glory," filled with unusual rare art, includes colorful revelations about his love for Empresses Josephine and Marie-Louise, as well as his relationships with a succession of mistresses. A terrific gift -- perfect for collectors as well as anyone interested in a clear, comprehensive overview of Napoleon's life and career. Includes exciting, vivid descriptions of the "little Corporal's" victories at Marengo, Austerlitz and other battles. Just don't start reading this at bedtime, like I did, if you expect to get any sleep.
Diana Haig - author of "Walks Through Napoleon and Josephine's Paris"

Easy to read with excellent illustrations from author's personal collection. Knowledge of detail very impressive.Highly recommended for excellent overview of this most fascinating historical figure. Col. Floyd McRae, USAF, Ret., Napoleonic Alliance.

I'm giving this book 4 stars (average of 5 stars for readibility and interest, 3 stars for critical reasoning). I can't agree more with the previous reviewer's comments; though an immensely enjoyable book to read, I was very disappointed with the lack of any serious or credible critique of the remarkable Napoleon. The book appears to be well researched, but I was left with nagging doubts over some conclusions and statements that -I believe -should have been examined more thoroughly or with a more critical analysis regarding Napoleon.

David Markham clearly has a passion and love of things Napoleon. I'd most certainly recommend this book as a very good read and is very well written.