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Philip G. Dwyer

Napoleon: The Path to Power Hardcover – March 27, 2008

by Philip Dwyer (Author)

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At just thirty years of age, Napoleon Bonaparte ruled the most powerful country in Europe. But the journey that led him there was neither inevitable nor smooth. This authoritative biography focuses on the evolution of Napoleon as a leader and debunks many of the myths that are often repeated about him—sensational myths often propagated by Napoleon himself. Here, Philip Dwyer sheds new light on Napoleon’s inner life—especially his darker side and his passions—to reveal a ruthless, manipulative, driven man whose character has been disguised by the public image he carefully fashioned to suit the purposes of his ambition.

Dwyer focuses acutely on Napoleon’s formative years, from his Corsican origins to his French education, from his melancholy youth to his flirtation with radicals of the French Revolution, from his first military campaigns in Italy and Egypt to the political-military coup that brought him to power in 1799. One of the first truly modern politicians, Napoleon was a master of “spin,” using the media to project an idealized image of himself. Dwyer’s biography of the young Napoleon provides a fascinating new perspective on one of the great figures of modern history.

Print length

672 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Yale University Press
Publication date

March 27, 2008
Dimensions

6.13 x 1.88 x 9.25 inches
ISBN-10

9780300137545
ISBN-13

978-0300137545
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Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Historical interest in Napoléon seems inexhaustible, a reflection of Napoléon’s success in creating a legend, as biographer Dwyer labels the phenomenon, of his heroic destiny. Recounting the youthful Napoléon’s military and political apprenticeship, Dwyer stresses a combination of more prosaic influences than fate in Napoléon’s rise from Corsican obscurity to leadership of France. At crucial points in his ascent, from obtaining a military scholarship to being enlisted in the 1799 coup that brought him to power, Napoléon enjoyed critical political patronage. In detailing these biographical turning points, Dwyer perceptively appraises traits balancing within Napoléon’s ambitions, in which revolutionary enthusiasm (Napoléon was arrested as a Robespierre supporter) was gradually sapped by cynicism about men and politics. Assessing him as essentially opportunistic, Dwyer makes the case by contrasting what Napoléon said was happening (in contemporaneous and retrospective commentary) with what was actually happening: Napoléon’s categorical military failure in Egypt, for example, was believed a glorious success in France. For readers interested in the French Revolution, Dwyer’s biography possesses attractive narrative fluidity and long-term library value as a research source. --Gilbert Taylor

Review

“. . . more than just a canter across familiar terrain…an attractive addition to the literature on one of the most controversial figures in modern European history”—Thomas Munch-Petersen, BBC History Magazine
(Thomas Munch-Petersen BBC History Magazine)

"An excellent history and a very good read."—John Merriman, New York Sun

(John Merriman New York Sun 2008-03-26)

"For readers interested in the French Revolution, Dwyer's biography possesses attractive narrative fluidity and long-term library value as a research source."—Booklist

(Booklist 2008-03-15)

“Remarkable . . . . Even-handed and authoritative, this fascinating and highly enjoyable book will be an eye opener even to those who think they know the subject well”—Adam Zamoyski, Sunday Times of London

(Adam Zamoyski Sunday Times of London)

"Philip Dwyer's scrupulously researched new biography Napoleon. . . reveals the very familiar and unromantic processes by which [Napoleon's] power was acquired, or rather taken, from a public seduced by myths and romantic fictions."—David Walton, Dallas Morning News

(David Walton Dallas Morning News 2008-05-25)

"[W]ell-written and thoughtfully argued. . . . one recommended to those interested in . . . Napoleon Bonaparte and the French Revolution. It should also be of great interest to political scientists studying the blend of the political and military arenas personified in one man."—Colonel James P. Herson, Jr., Parameters: U.S. Army War College Quarterly

(Colonel James P. Herson, Jr., Parameters: U.S. Army War College Quarterly 2009-02-10)

"Dwyer deserves praise for elements of his fresh, modern approach and exhaustive research. . . . [His] biography is fascinating in its unusual descriptions of Napoleon's tribulations and his motivations."—Llewellyn Cook, The Journal of Military History

(Llewellyn Cook The Journal of Military History 2009-02-10)

"Enlightening. . . . An excellent read for the specialist of the French Revolution as well as the specialist in Bonapartism."—Anne York, The Historian

(Anne York The Historian)

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ 0300137540
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Yale University Press; First Edition (March 27, 2008)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 672 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9780300137545
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0300137545
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.2 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.13 x 1.88 x 9.25 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #2,002,536 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #1,567 in Historical France Biographies
- #4,719 in US Presidents
- #11,287 in Political Leader Biographies

Customer Reviews:
56 ratings

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5 star		74%
4 star		10%
3 star		13%
2 star 0% (0%)		0%
1 star		3%

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Top reviews from the United States

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Melvin Jimenez

Okay

Reviewed in the United States on March 25, 2014

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I'm new to the genre. I didn't really feel I learned anything about why Napoleon became such a large world figure... the whole book makes me wonder how it was that such a person as Napoleon was even capable of achieving such great feats. Other reviews say this is a fair and balanced book, but I felt it was heavily leaning against Napoleon, not unbiased as I was lead to believe.

I give it three stars because although I was not to fond of the content, Dwyer is a good writer and it was not painful nor difficult to read this book. I would not recommend it as fun read.

3 people found this helpful

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Kindle Customer

Excellent first read on Napolean

Reviewed in the United States on March 25, 2009

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If you don't know a lot about Napolean this is a good place to start. However, the book only chronicles his early life up until he gained power. It does not cover the period of his reign or his eventual downfall. You'll need something else to fill in that gap. If you want a complete biography this book is not the right one. For that reason I took away one star. I'm not sure of this, but I think the author is working on a sequel.

What is covered is very comprehensive. Some criticisms of the book have panned it because it relies on anecdotes that are unsubstantiated. This is true but the author is upfront about this, let's you know what is unsubstantiated, and tells you how valid he thinks the source is. In this way the author shows how the "myth" of Napoleon developed and how it contributed to his rise to power. That was a major purpose of the book and in that respect it succeeded. In terms of comprehensiveness I would give the book 5 stars.

Overall the book is well-written. For that, I would also give it 5 stars. It's an easy read. In fact it reads more like a novel than an historical account. I took it on a trip and read most of it on a plane and on a beach.

3 people found this helpful

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Ethan G.

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United States on February 12, 2015

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A fabulous biography. As a history Ph. D. Student I was very impressed.

One person found this helpful

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Napoleon: The Path to Power is a fine study of the early years of Napoleon Bonaparte by a noted scholar of the period

Reviewed in the United States on December 12, 2013

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"Napoleon: The Path to Power" is the first of two volumes on the life of the Corsican. Dr. Philip Dwyer is the distinguished author. Dwyer's first volume chronicles the life of Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821) from his birth on the island of Corsica concluding with his assumption of power over the French revolutionary government on the eighteenth of Brumaire (November 9, 1799). Volume II follows the career of the Little Corporeal from his dictatorship of France until his final exile on Elbe.
Volume I is much shorter than the second volume but is still able to hold the general reader's attention. Dwyer is an expert on Napoleon and his times. Dwyer possesses the narrative skills of an experienced historian. Napoleon's family were supporters of Paoli the rebel leader against the French but later became supporters of the Paris government. Napoleon attended various military academies in France winning Fame for his artillery prowess at the siege of Toulon.. Later he led the French republican armies to victory in a brilliant Italian campaign against Austria. In 1978 he led a Republican Army into battle in Egypt, Syria and Palestine. This mixed result invasion was launched in an effort to stymie British interests in the region. A proposed invasion of British India did not transpire. Napoleon wed Josephine Beauharnais an older experienced woman. The couple were both unfaithful to one another. Josephine was a lovely Creole who carried on affairs with several men including Hippolyte Charles who served in the Napoleon army. She and Napoleon had no children though she did have two children by her first husband. Napoleon had countless affairs throughout his life.
Napoleon was modern In his clever use of propaganda. His victory at the Bridge of Arcola won him acclaim from the French people. Many saw him as the Savior of Republican France following the execution of Robspierre in 1794. Napoleon was possessed of a massive ego who would betray anyone or do anything to reach the top of the French government. Napoleon had angers within his soul.
The book delves deeply into French political life and will be a hard read for many general readers. Nevertheless, if you have read little on the career of Napoleon the Dwyer volumes are good places to begin. The book contains several black and white illustrations and includes an adequate bibliography. The book was first published in 2007. This is not the most exciting reading experience but the volume does contain a detailed portrait of a young man on the rise to fame and glory.

3 people found this helpful

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HomoSardonicus

The Ersatz Hero

Reviewed in the United States on April 15, 2008

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In a review of Philip Dwyer's new biography, one scholar called it "conceivably the best biography of Napoleon ever, in any language." As one who has read many books about a man whom I greatly admired as a teenager, this is certainly the only biography that draws a believable portrait of a flesh and blood man rather than a legend or monument. Here is a Napoleon completely de-mythologized and reduced to human proportions; here is a man on the make, a one-time romantic who had become a mercilessly ambitious cynic in his mid-twenties, a man who believed in nothing but himself and his destiny. Many of the things I and perhaps all of us had believed about this adventurer were false or ony half true. Napoleon was a self-promoter who understood earlier than most the power of propaganda and the popular press and played them both like a fine violin. Stories about his bravery and great exploits in Italy and Egypt as a young general turn out to be fairly ordinary affairs which he used to make himself the indispensable man. There was nothing inevitable about his rise, and his seizure of power in 1799(the concluding event in this first of a projected two-volume biography)is pure farce, almost slapstick. Napoleon is regarded as a Great Man, but there is nothing particularly great or admirable in him. Compared to the truly great men of his age--George Washington and Lafayette--Napoleon is but a dwarf. It's not a pretty or edifying picture but this wonderful book is a must read--it shows us how people can be conned by little men from nowhere and led to their self-destruction.

3 people found this helpful

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Dumasclub Man

Epic Biography of Napoleon

Reviewed in the United States on January 29, 2014

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A very detailed and well written account of Napoleon 's rise to power. The author is careful to point out Napoleon 's failings as well as abilities. He ends up being neither the trolling caricature of British cartoons of the period nor the perfect infallible man. Napoleon as a self promoter and brilliant politician are pointed out, as he survives the Revolution not only with his head intact but in power. The author walks you through every incident and debacle. I was happily surprised with the reading.

One person found this helpful

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mockturtle

Three Stars

Reviewed in the United States on March 24, 2015

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A fine example of uninspired writing on a potentially fascinating subject.

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Top reviews from other countries

Stuart Elvery

Great addition to Napoleonic Library.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 6, 2017

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I received this book with some pleasure.It is one volume of a two volume set.The book provides a comprehensive biography of a very
important figure in European history.The book is clean and in a very good condition.I would order from this book store again.

joe

Napoleon was not born great, and his life is rminicent of many people ...

Reviewed in Canada on January 26, 2015

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This book was required reading in my 5th year seminar at university. It is a very well written and researched book. Napoleon was not born great, and his life is rminicent of many people during the revolution in France. Always noted as “the child of the revolution”, Dwyer shows Napoleons ascension from a low officer in the French artillery to becoming first consul and Emperor of France. It is written more like a story than a textbook, which is probably the best way to talk about Napoleon’s path to power. Dwyer is clear and concise in his explanation of events and influences on Napoleon. Due to its easy reading, it is perfect for those people that just like history and want a well-written and researched book that tells history the way it is. I applaud Dwyer’s writing and analysis of Napoleon throughout his career as a soldier and eventually an effective politician. Good job Dwyer!

One person found this helpful

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