First published 2021
Napoleon Bonaparte speaks directly through his own proclamations, letters, and speeches across five pivotal periods of his career. Editor Ida Tarbell structures the material chronologically, beginning with Bonaparte's Italian Campaign and Egyptian Expedition, then moving through his tenure as First Consul and Emperor of France before concluding with his downfall. The collection draws from official documents and private correspondence to expose Bonaparte's strategic reasoning and command philosophy. Tarbell, the investigative journalist who exposed Standard Oil's monopoly practices, brings her analytical expertise to historical biography. She argued that examining great leaders could drive positive social transformation. Ralph Waldo Emerson contributes an introductory chapter to this 2021 republication of the 1896 original. Readers gain unfiltered access to the thinking of a military commander whose battlefield methods continue to influence modern military academies. The book serves military history scholars and leadership students seeking direct insight into Bonaparte's decision-making during crucial moments that shaped European history.
Genres: biography, history, 20th-century, military-history, 19th-century, academic
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: historical-figure
Setting: France, Italy, Egypt
Period: 19th Century, Early 20th Century
108 pages · Paperback · Read & Co. History