succulentoats

Information about the book

Some notes on the book

The book is well written and documented. It does not go into so much detail as to become burdensome. It was written in simple chronological order. Roberts peppered the text with small useful comments when necessary or warranted.

Some general themes on the man

Napoleon is a frustrated statesman who had to fight too many wars

Overall, this book left me with the impression that NB wanted mostly to be a statesman. He was frustrated, angry and sad to realize time and time again that he wasn't able to be that. In most cases, after NB became emperor and he was able to chose his actions freely he was dragged into war. He wasn't seeking it.

I would argue that he was a better statesman than military man. In the few months of peace that he had at his disposal, he was able to build institutions which were copied by many countries around the world. The code civil was put in places such as China and accross latin america for example. His way of understanding the french people endures today with the legion d'honneur and other elitist measures he used to find the best generals in the country.
His views on meritocracy changed all of Europe functioned, all the major empires of the time had to change their social structures to ones based on meritocracy. They had to change not only because their populations wanted them but also and most importantly they were more efficacious economically and militarily speaking.

Work never stopped

He could send over 50 letters in a day and travel from Poland to France in less than 4 days. Overall, he was always moving. This was of huge importance when it came to war since he was able to surprise his enemies not only with the presence of his armies but even his own.
Be it on the battle field or when making political decisions, he was never static. He truly lived up to the expression the worst decision is that which is not made.

He viewed violence as the only way of bending other peoples to his will

He went as far as organizing an invasion of the United Kingdom! Something which hadn't been accomplished since the Battle of Hastings in 1066. At various points, he had control of the largest market in the world; instead of using that position wisely he tried to use it to bend England to his will through embargoes. It ended up costing him everything.