Interesting book on the French leader who Roberts has more than a little admiration for despite (or because) of his militaristic, totalitarian tendencies. Napoleon was a remarkable man who achieved great things. Were these things not possible peacefully?
Exhaustively researched. Roberts does get a bit side tracked by battles, listing battalions and what not. He doesn't have Max Hastings' gift for the small anecdote that illustrates history brilliantly (but then Roberts wasn't a working journo). But he's good on Napoleon's sex life, and writing, and court life. I think the difference between Roberts and Hastings (I'm reading a lot of them at the moment) is that Hastings is more aware of the personal impact of what other people do.
The best bit is the build up to and the description of the Invasion of Russia. It's an easyto read book and Roberts is great at collating detail.
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