Napoleon: The Decline and Fall of an Empire: 1811-1821

Napoleon: The Decline and Fall of an Empire is a dynamic new history of the last chapter of Napoleon's life, from his defeat in Russia and the drama of Waterloo to his final exile. It explores the ever-bloodier conflicts, the disintegration and reforging of the bonds among the Bonaparte family, and the serpentine diplomacy that shaped the fate of Europe. The book draws on the remarkable resource of the new edition of Napoleons personal correspondence produced by the Fondation Napoleon in Paris and follows his thoughts and feelings, his hopes and ambitions, as he fought to preserve the world he had created. The last years of the Napoleonic Empire reveal its innate strength, but it now faced hopeless odds. The horrors and heroism of war are omnipresent in these years, from Lisbon to Moscow, in the life of the common soldier.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 768 pages
Publication date: 14 September 2023
Publisher: Pegasus Books

Napoleon: The Decline and Fall of an Empire is a gripping account of the last chapter of Napoleons life,from his defeat in Russia and the drama of Waterloo to his final exile. The book explores the dramatic conflicts, the disintegration and reforging of the bonds among the Bonaparte family, and the serpentine diplomacy that shaped the fate of Europe. At the heart of the story is Napoleons own sense of history, the tensions in his own character, and the shared vision of a family dynasty to rule Europe. Drawing on the remarkable resource of the new edition of Napoleons personal correspondence produced by the Fondation Napoleon in Paris, Michael Broers dynamic new history follows Napoleons thoughts and feelings, his hopes and ambitions, as he fought to preserve the world he had created. Much of this turns on his relationship with Josephine, his wife, and his children, as well as with his generals and other key figures in his life. The book also explores the impact of Napoleons legacy on the world, including the rise of nationalism and the emergence of new political ideologies. Napoleon: The Decline and Fall of an Empire is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of Europe and the world.
Napoleon: The Decline and Fall of an Empire is a captivating new history book that delves into the final chapter of Napoleon's life, from his defeat in Russia and the drama of Waterloo to his final exile. Written by an accomplished Oxford scholar, the book offers a dynamic and comprehensive account of the events that shaped the world Napoleon had created.

In 1811, Napoleon stood at the peak of his power. He had defeated all his continental rivals, forged an entente with Russia, and his blockade of Britain seemed to be a success. The emperor had an heir on the way with his new wife, Marie-Louise, the young daughter of the Emperor of Austria. His personal life was also calm and secure for the first time in many years. It was a moment of unprecedented peace and hope, built on the foundations of emphatic military victories.

However, in less than two years, all of this was in peril. In four years, it was gone, swept away by the tides of war against the most powerful alliance in European history. The rest of his life was passed on a barren island. This is not a story any novelist could create; it is reality as epic.

Napoleon: The Decline and Fall of an Empire traces this story through the dramatic narrative of the years 1811-1821 and explores the ever-bloodier conflicts, the disintegration and reforging of the bonds among the Bonaparte family, and the serpentine diplomacy that shaped the fate of Europe. At the heart of the story is Napoleon's own sense of history, the tensions in his own character, and the shared vision of a family dynasty to rule Europe.

Drawing on the remarkable resource of the new edition of Napoleon's personal correspondence produced by the Fondation Napoleon in Paris, Michael Broers' dynamic new history follows Napoleon's thoughts and feelings, his hopes and ambitions, as he fought to preserve the world he had created. Much of this turns on his relationship with Josephine, his wife, and his children, as well as with his generals and other key figures in his life. The book also explores the impact of Napoleon's legacy on the world, including the rise of nationalism and the emergence of new political ideologies.

Napoleon: The Decline and Fall of an Empire is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of Europe and the world.

Weight: 824g
Dimension: 153 x 231 x 62 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781639364657