Bonaparte in Egypt, (Unknown Binding)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Originally published in 1962, J. Christopher Herold's Bonaparte in Egypt is the best modern account of this extraordinary campaign.

In a detailed study, elegantly written, Herold covers all aspects of Bonaparte's expedition: military, political, and cultural. It was a bold adventure, full of drama, topped and tailed by the extremes of total triumph and utter defeat. Although Bonaparte was victorious at the Battle of the Pyramids and occupied Cairo, his fleet was completely destroyed by Nelson at Abukir Bay and his ambition to conquer the Holy Land was frustrated at Acre. Despite these reverses, Bonaparte returned to France where he was greeted as a hero and seized political power in 1799.

His attempt to take permanent control of Egypt and Syria for France was a critical stage on his road to power, and it is one of the most revealing episodes in his spectacular career. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Unknown Binding: 424 pages
• Publisher: H. Hamilton (1963)
• Language: English
• ASIN: B0006DC7O8
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #3,435,150 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Factual facts of both versions of the Legend., January 7, 2007

By	Carlos Santillan (Mexico City, Mexico.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bonaparte in Egypt (Paperback)

Factual facts of both versions of the Legend.

It has been said that Napoleon created his legend when writing his memoirs in Saint Helens, also that his opponents have created a Black Legend around him, well, the late J. Christopher Herold in a objective manner analyzes and writes about the Napoleon who went to the conquest of Egypt. He had a most peculiar way of explaining the events of this campaign while throwing here and there humorous comments, for example, when he writes about a "the gentleman with the unforgettable name".

His approach to the analysis of the campaign is deep, for instance, the events involving the massacre of the prisoners of Jaffa, in other biographies of Napoleon, that I own, in two of them the authors do not mention it, and the other one justifies it. But J. Christopher Herold in his objective research, clearly demonstrates that it was a war crime, he talks about other points of view of the event, done by pro-Napoleonic and anti-Napoleonic authors and he analyses Napoleon's choices and the the execution of the thousands of prisoners by bayoneting and drowning was not the only and most humane solution. (There is another previous event involving the execution of 450 prostitutes).

Follow Napoleon from Toulon to Malta, Abukir, Alexandria, Cairo, Syria, etc. this book includes tons of information, and the book is not centered around Napoleon, you'll read about other players in this campaign, like Monge, Berthollet, Conté, Desaix, you'll read even letters written by grenadiers, and learn about Middle East history: The Porte, The Mamelukes, about Murad Bey, etc. Originally published in 1962, this book is a worthy addition to the library of any scholar or "armchair general" interested in Napoleon Bonaparte.