Napoleon

By: Paul Johnson

Narrated by: John Lee

From New York Times bestselling author Paul Johnson, “a very readable and entertaining biography” (The Washington Post) about one of the most important figures in modern European history: Napoleon Bonaparte

In an ideal pairing of author and subject, the magisterial historian Paul Johnson offers a vivid look at the life of the strategist, general, and dictator who conquered much of Europe. Following Napoleon from the barren island of Corsica to his early training in Paris, from his meteoric victories and military dictatorship to his exile and death, Johnson examines the origins of his ferocious ambition. In Napoleon's quest for power, Johnson sees a realist unfettered by patriotism or ideology. And he recognizes Bonaparte’s violent legacy in the totalitarian regimes of the twentieth century. Napoleon is a magnificent work that bears witness to one individual's ability to work his will on history.©2002 Paul Johnson; (P)2002 Books on Tape, Inc.

Critic reviews

Praise for Napoleon by Paul Johnson:

“Paul Johnson . . . is a historian at the top his game. His judgments are sure. His historical range is sweeping. His storytelling is crisp and his writing elegant.”
—The Baltimore Sun

“The selection of the venerable British historian . . . Paul Johnson to write on Napoleon . . . has turned out to be a wise one: Johnson is succinct, critical, and deeply skeptical of the Napoleonic legend.”
—The Atlantic Monthly

“This is a jewel of a book; comprehensive, brief, and passionate.”
—The Economist

“Johnson provides an excellent overview . . . [He] presents a concise appraisal of Napoleon’s career and a precise understanding of his enigmatic character.”
—Booklist

“[A] succinct yet lively biography . . . very readable and entertaining.”
—The Washington Post

Start with this Napoleon Book

I dowloaded and lsitened to this Napoleon book, and the one by Fischer also available on Audible. I am new to Napoleon, and if you are too, I recommend starting with this book by Johnson first, and the one by Fischer afterwards. Johnson's short book sets the stage for the modern reader and is read is a gripping manner by John Lee. Fischer's book provides sought after detail but loses the novice Napoleon reader because it assumes some familiarity with the outlines of his career.

Interesting, insightful, well-read. but.....

Paul Johnson does a good job in this relatively short book in objectively examining, and demolishing, the shallow cult of Bonaparte. He reinforces what Churchill observed: that Napoleon was as great as a man could be, without being good.
Johnson does make one elementary error that surprised me however: he conflated Napoleon's brothers Lucien and Louis as if they were the same person. One would think such a basic error would have been picked up in the editing.
The narrator was superb.

Doesn't like Napoleon very much

Paul Johnson is a trenchant critic of dictators in general and Napoleon in particular. I'm reading other, more favorably disposed, biographies at the same time; Johnson is a useful corrective. The man who brought the ideals of the French Revolution to much of the continent of Europe was also the man who repeatedly deserted his troops in a crisis and was responsible, directly or indirectly, for the deaths of millions.

John Lee gives his usual clear and energetic interpretation. He seems to have become the go-to guy for biographies of Napoleon.

Highly recommended

A book full of fresh insights on a well-covered topic.
Johnson gives us a critical yet balanced biography of Bonaparte, which avoids the pitfall of getting bogged down with individual battles. Despite the great breadth and thoroughness of this book, the pacing is swift, the style lively and captivating. To top it all off, "Napoleon" is read by John Lee, one of the best narrators on audible.com.

Incredible

A must read and necessary correction to the despicable Napoleonic hero worship pervasive among Marxists