For all of their variety in number, size, and detail, biographies of Napoleon Bonaparte can be grouped into three categories. The first are those, such as Patrice Gueniffey's [b:Bonaparte: 1769-1802|23502929|Bonaparte 1769-1802|Patrice Gueniffey|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1421711057s/23502929.jpg|26520720], which concentrate on Napoleon the person, analyzing his motivations, beliefs, and views. The second, which includes works like Andrew Roberts's [b:Napoleon: A Life|20821092|Napoleon A Life|Andrew Roberts|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1396671960s/20821092.jpg|40166985], focus more on his military career, detailing the battles and campaigns which were so critical to his success.

The final category are those which pivot on the political aspects of Napoleon's career. These are perhaps the least common of the three, yet they focus on what is the most important aspect of his life and legacy. This becomes clear in Michael Broers's book, the first of a projected three-volume biography of the emperor. In it he traces Napoleon's life from his early years in Corsica, through his time as an officer in the royalist and revolutionary French army, to his successes as a general and as an political leader. Broers sees Napoleon's time as conqueror and ruler of Italy as key both to his emergence as a prospective leader and to the development of his ideas of government. Though applied bluntly in Egypt, their legacy in Bomaparte's development of the French government during his years as First Consul and as emperor are made clear by the author, who details the manifold achievements which did so much to make modern France.

Not the least of Broers' achievements in this lucid and insightful work is his success in demonstrating how Napoleon's political skills and ability in managing people were at least as important as his military gifts. He succeeds in making the case for appreciating Napoleon as more than a successful general but as a ruler whose accomplishments were due to a multitude of factors. He leaves his readers eager for the continuation of the tale of Napoleon's life, particularly as the limits of his abilities emerged and why ultimately they proved inadequate to the perpetuation of his reign. ( )

This is the first part of a new two volume biography of Napoleon. Broers draws extensively from both primary and secondary sources.

He starts this biography in Corsica with his family history and the material circumstances surrounding his childhood in Corsica. This is a necessary and important component. Gives a better perspective on the man and his role in the broad Socio-historical processes.

He goes on to chronicle his move to France and the circumstances surrounding it. His role in Robespierre’s reign of terror, where he first got the chance to showcase his military talents at the siege of Toulon. Later he managed to survive the end of Terror and got an important position in the Directory. His first Italian campaign which propelled him to fame (with the help of a lot of shameless self-propaganda, most of which were lies) has also given him a lot of experience in administration and diplomacy. The Egyptian campaign and the coup at the 18th Brumaire which took him to power in the Consulate and eventually to his coronation. This part stops with the events leading to the battle of Austerlitz.

Napoleon was a child of the revolution. Growing up in a Petite bourgeoisie family with little prospects, only the revolution has paved the way for his meteoric rise to power. But he never trusted either the masses or the reactionary royalists. He was obsessed with order, and it was the wealthy middle-class who formed the bedrock of his regime. In his own words there are three major factions in the French society,

“1. there are the friends of the former government; 2. The supporters of an independent if rather aristocratic constitution; 3. The supporters of a French constitution, or of pure democracy. I repress the first, support the second and restrain the third, because the party of the second is that of the rich landowners and priests who, in the final analysis, will win over the mass of the population, and it is essential to rally it around the French cause.”

Napoleon is frequently compared to Hitler and Stalin and understandably so. He was authoritarian and ruthless. He was self-serving and ambitious and never hesitated perpetrating acts of violence whenever necessary. His method of dealing with revolutionary and reactionary uprisings was by destroying whole villages. He gave his army free reign to rape and pillage at their will after a battle. He abandoned his army at Egypt and later sent 50,000 men to a disastrous campaign in Saint-Domingue. His handling of the naval war in 1804-1805 was a disaster and Broers calls it one of his most incompetent and disgraceful acts.
This is a biography that sympathises with Napoleon and casts him in a different light, but is still even-handed. Broers here tries hard to show that Napoleon was not just a blood thirsty dictator and a cynical manipulator. He tries to show how his policies and action are based on his idea of Ralliement and amalgame. He tries to show Napoleon as progressive in both military organisation and civil administration.

This is a wonderful biography that is extensively reasearched and provides a lot of insights and detail regarding the life of Napoleon Bonaparte.

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