First published 1974
In a bold reimagining, Burgess weaves Napoleon's tumultuous life into a grand, symphonic novel. From the battlefields of Europe to the intrigue of the French court, we follow the epic rise and fall of history's most notorious conqueror. Yet beneath the clash of empires lies a deeply human story - of ambition, power, and the relentless pursuit of glory. In Burgess's masterful hands, Napoleon's journey becomes a sweeping, bawdy, and tragically beautiful ode to the complexities of the human condition.
Genres: literary-fiction, historical-fiction, 20th-century, war
Vibes: intimate, lyrical, thought-provoking
Tropes: epic, historical-figure
Setting: France
416 pages · Paperback · W. W. Norton & Company