First published 2005
J. Christopher Herold examines Napoleon Bonaparte's audacious Egyptian expedition of 1798-1801, a campaign that combined military conquest with scientific discovery. Herold traces Bonaparte's journey from his stunning victory at the Battle of the Pyramids and occupation of Cairo to the devastating naval defeat at Abukir Bay, where Nelson destroyed the French fleet. The author details Bonaparte's failed attempt to expand into the Holy Land, thwarted at the siege of Acre. Despite these setbacks, Bonaparte abandoned his army and returned to France as a celebrated hero, using his reputation to seize political control in 1799. Herold covers the military, political, and cultural dimensions of this bold venture, showing how Bonaparte's Egyptian gambit became a crucial stepping stone to ultimate power. The book reveals how this dramatic campaign, marked by both spectacular success and crushing failure, exposed the character and ambitions that would define Bonaparte's later career as Emperor of France.
Genres: historical-fiction, 20th-century, adventure, non-fiction, military-history, 19th-century
Vibes: emotional, fast-paced, thought-provoking
Tropes: epic, historical-fiction
Setting: Abukir Bay, Acre, Cairo, Egypt
Period: 1798-1801
424 pages · Paperback · Pen and Sword Military