The Age of Napoleon [Audio Cassette]

Product Details

• Audio Cassette
• Publisher: Recorded Books; Unabridged edition
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1402596456
• ISBN-13: 978-1402596452
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,745,146 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Nice Addition to Horne's Seven Ages of Paris, May 26, 2004

By 

Ricky Hunter (New York City, NY United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Age of Napoleon (Modern Library Chronicles) (Hardcover)

This newest addition to the Modern Library Chronicles series is not a history of Napoleon but a snapshot into this time in France, although by his very nature the man defines the times. For a short biography of Napoleon, take a look at Paul Johnson's slim volume and for a fuller context of Parisian history read Alistair Horne's The Seven Ages of Paris. This book, the Age of Napoleon, is Alistair Horne's examination of one of those particular ages and the man at the centre of it. The book is arranged by topics as opposed to a chronological history so basic familiarty with European history will be an advantage. The author also repeats himself, at times, as the story moves back and forth. But this book will give the reader an idea of these tumultous times and either lead them to further reading about Napoleon the man or work as a refresher to a previously read biography.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Nice Digest of Napoleon's Influence on France, December 14, 2006

By 

Yan Timanovsky (Brooklyn, NY) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Age of Napoleon (Modern Library Chronicles) (Hardcover)

Horne's pithy little book is certainly not a good introduction to Napoleon the man, general, or emperor, nor a comprehensive history text on France. It is, however, a valuable collection of his most lasting and significant policies, ambitions, whims, excesses, successes, and failures.

Horne writes with the facile hand of an expert in his element, yet this book will certainly prove most valuable to the casual rather than novice or advanced scholar of Napoleonic France. It covers his rise to fame, deceptively humble power-grab, impressive reformist tendencies and initiatives, his staid morality contrasting personal hypocrisy, as well as Napoleon's creation of a new and (at least in theory) merit-based aristocracy, as well as the advent of modern French culture. Colorful episodes featuring his beloved Josephine as well as other flames and vixens are recounted.

This will be a nice addition to a Francophile shelf, but only a sketchy entry text for the curious.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars almost conversational, yet scholarly, riveting and humorous, August 31, 2004

By 

William T. Keith "Portico Magazine" (Birmingham, Alabama) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Age of Napoleon (Modern Library Chronicles) (Hardcover)

Engaging and informative, Horne manages to present his vast knowledge of Napoleon and his age in an almost conversational tone that-while full of rich historical detail-manages to be scholarly, riveting and often quite humorous. For example, in addition to learn about the numerous ways Napoleon's two decade rule transformed Europe, we learn that his wife and Empress Josephine's wardrobe contained 666 winter dresses, 230 summer ones and only two pair of knickers. If one wishes for a direct introduction to Napoleon and his influence, The Age of Napoleon is an excellent place to start.