This Very Short Introduction might prove disappointing to those
expecting an introduction to a very short man. Dispelling the myth of
Napoleon Bonaparte's short stature, as well as the other rumors and
legends, David A. Bell provides a concise, accurate, and lively
portrait of Napoleon Bonaparte's character and career, situating him
firmly in historical context.This book emphasizes the astonishing
sense of human possibility--for both good and ill--that Napoleon
represented. By his late twenties, Napoleon was already one of the
greatest generals in European history. At thirty, he had become
absolute master of Europe's most powerful country. In his early
forties, he ruled a European empire more powerful than any since Rome,
fighting wars that changed the shape of the continent and brought
death to millions. Then everything collapsed, leading him to spend his
last years in miserable exile in the South Atlantic. Bell underscores
the importance of the French Revolution in understanding Napoleon's
career. The revolution made possible the unprecedented concentration
of political authority that Napoleon accrued, and his success in
mobilizing human and material resources for war. Without the political
changes brought about by the revolution, Napoleon could not have
fought his wars. Without the wars, he could not have seized and held
onto power. Though his virtual dictatorship betrayed the ideals of
liberty and equality, his life and career were revolutionary.
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A Very Short Introduction
Produktdetaljer
ISBN
9780199321681
Publisert
2020
Utgiver
Vendor
Oxford University Press
Språk
Product language
Engelsk
Format
Product format
Digital bok
Forfatter