Napoleon and wellington biography of a marriage

After the battle, Napoleon gave little credit to Wellington for his victory, but blamed his defeat on his own subordinates, the weather, and other factors save his opponent's competence. Meanwhile, the Duke publicly admired Napoleon beating a praiseworthy foe reflects well upon oneself while privately disparaging him. Along the way, we encounter mistresses, good generals, bad generals, brief biographies, a burned violin, imperial hemorrhoids, "pachydermal penetration," and the dismissal of several battlefield legends.

While not a detailed study of Waterloo and it doesn't claim to be , it's an interesting read. I appreciated learning more about Wellington, not having read much on him. I enjoyed this book but ultimately the weakness of the book is the weakness of the title. It is only interesting up to a point to have these 2 great historic figures continually compared and contrasted.

My view is it works for about of the pages. The other aspect which I found not so interesting was to read over many pages the interpretation that both Napoleon and Wellington put on their own battles and successes and failures. Napoleon on st Helena has much time to muse and we get a steady account of the blame he heaps on his generals, on the weather on strategy on others for his ultimate failure at Waterloo.

This I found long and repetitive. Against these weaknesses there is nonetheless Roberts outstanding scholarly and ironic presentation. I particularly like his ability to inject wit and irony into his account of these 2 greats occasionally debunking even our greatest national military General. Author 16 books 47 followers. Napoleon and Wellington are historically joined at the hip because of their epic encounter at Waterloo.

But Andrew Roberts has not set out to offer a dual biography. Rather his purpose is to compare and contrast Napoleon and Wellington especially as their lives and events led up to and followed Waterloo. In particular, he focuses on what the two thought of each other before and after History might not repeat itself, but historians repeat one another, and the myth has grown up of ludicrous Napoleonic over-confidence.

It is these two myths that the present work sets out to dispel, for the truth is far less straightforward and much more interesting. No, Wellington was not always the consummate, self-effacing gentleman. Napoleon, on the other hand, expressed considerable appreciation for Wellington and his victories prior to Waterloo. And who won history?

Pieter Baert. Andrew Roberts succeeds in telling the complex story of two great men who never actually met with class and clarity. He uses his work to debunk serveral myths of Napoleon and Wellington and the finished product is a book that offers a nice comparison between both men how were they alike and how were they different , how they viewed each other etc.

Roberts takes his time in pointing out that historians often misintepreted the words of both men and relied to heavily on sources that were honestly coloured. Even though Roberts is known to be a great Napoleonfan, he does not let this come in the way in pointing out Napoleon's mistakes, character defects and when Napoleon was unfairly harsh on Wellington.

Towards the end it offers a nice insight in the mind of Napoleon on St-Helena as he seems to slip further and further into depression and disillussion with his current faith and how he blamed Wellington for a large part of it. Worth reading! In my mind this book was more of a direct comparison of the moral and ethical values of two individuals who were both very successful battlefield commanders.

Much of the book dealt with their personalities and their activities off the field of battle. Only the last few dust ups leading toward Waterloo offered direct comparisons of their actions when facing each other. As to the strategies these two commanders utilized the author presented only brief descriptions. I gave the book four stars in recognition of the research involved.

Don't draw on this book to determine who was the greater of the two. David Newell. A solid read, well put together, this duel biography does a good job of comparing and contrasting the two great men of this age ha! Hugo Miguel. It is an interesting perspective and enjoyable read to imagine a relationship that wasn't. Skyhigh I like history as it unfolds this perspective is interesting but may not be detailed enough for some.

Errol Cavan. The rest is history. Emily BG. Fine, good beginning, boring af in the last half to the point I skipped most of it Really got the picture about what they thought about it after the first eighty quotes and pencil notations. With schoolboy humour and a jibe at fellow-historians, Andrew Roberts undertakes to dispel myths about Napoleon and Wellington.

One could say he sets himself up for the Battle of the Storyline. In some ways it is a wonder there is still interest in the style of warfare of this period. But that drawing of battle lines makes it relevant for today in ways that may not have otherwise been. With all the twists and turns of alliances throughout the countries of Europe in the past, it seems strange to be considering them now.

In reality the story that is still not told here is the one of the ordinary people. Next ». November 11, at pm. Shannon Selin says:. Hels says:. April Munday says:. November 14, at am. November 14, at pm. Christoph Fischer says:. Hunter S. Jones says:. November 15, at pm. Charles D. Cohn says:. November 16, at am.

Napoleon and wellington biography of a marriage

November 16, at pm. Joseph C Ogbonna says:. December 9, at pm. December 10, at am. Josh says:. By the age of 15, he advanced to the prestigious military academy in Paris. This was a pivotal period in his education, as it not only refined his military skills but also instilled in him a deep understanding of French society. Napoleon Bonaparte, born on August 15, , in Ajaccio, Corsica, was a towering figure in military history and the first emperor of France.

His rise to power began amid the chaos of the French Revolution, a period rife with social and political upheaval. Initially an artillery officer, Napoleon's talents were recognized during his military campaigns, which began with successful victories for the French army against external enemies, particularly in Italy. His strategic prowess in military leadership quickly earned him a reputation, allowing him to ascend rapidly through the ranks, gaining favor in political circles.

In , through the Coup of 18 Brumaire, Napoleon seized control of the French government, effectively ending the revolutionary phase of France. He established the Consulate, positioning himself as the first consul, a power he wielded with absolute authority. His reforms reshaped the French legal system with the introduction of the Napoleonic Code, which emphasized equality before the law and laid the groundwork for modern legal systems.

As a result of both his military and political acumen, he was proclaimed emperor of the French in , cementing his influence and legacy in European history. Napoleon Bonaparte emerged as a trusted military leader during a tumultuous time in France's history. Following the inception of the French Revolution in , he swiftly ascended through the ranks.

His military acumen became evident in when he defended the revolutionary government of the Directory from royalist forces attempting a coup, earning him recognition and command of the Army of the Interior. This pivotal moment solidified his status and opened the door to greater military responsibilities, allowing him to lead the Army of Italy, where he orchestrated significant victories that expanded French territorial holdings and showcased his tactical brilliance.

Under Napoleon's command, the Army of Italy transformed from a demoralized and poorly supplied unit into a formidable force. His keen strategic mind and charismatic leadership led to a series of victories against Austrian forces, enhancing his reputation and consolidating his power within France. By , he sought to disrupt British trade by invading Egypt; despite a significant early setback at the Battle of the Nile, he returned to France with his reputation largely intact.

A Shrinking Colossus Remembering with Advantages The War for Clios Ear Napoleon Has Abdicated He has been a professional historian since the publication of his life of Lord Halifax , The Holy Fox, in , followed by Eminent Churchillians in He contributes regularly to the Sunday Telegraph.