Napoleon
Soldier of Destiny
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Narrated by:
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Simon Vance
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By:
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Michael Broers
About this listen
Written with great energy and authority - and using the newly available personal archives of Napoleon himself - the first volume of a majestic two-part biography of the great French emperor and conqueror.
All previous lives of Napoleon have relied more on the memoirs of others than on his own uncensored words. This is the first life of Napoleon, in any language, that makes full use of his newly released personal correspondence compiled by the Napoleon Foundation in Paris.
Michael Broers' biography draws on the thoughts of Napoleon himself as his incomparable life unfolded. It reveals a man of intense emotion, but also of iron self-discipline; of acute intelligence and immeasurable energy. Tracing his life from its dangerous Corsican roots, through his rejection of his early identity, and the dangerous military encounters of his early career, it tells the story of the sheer determination, ruthlessness, and careful calculation that won him the precarious mastery of Europe by 1807. After the epic battles of Austerlitz, Jena, and Friedland, France was the dominant land power on the continent.
Here is the first biography of Napoleon in which this brilliant, violent leader is evoked to give the listener a full, dramatic, and all-encompassing portrait.
©2015 Michael Broers (P)2019 Blackstone Audio, Inc.Listeners also enjoyed...
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Overall
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Performance
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The story of the Roman Republic is the greatest epic in human history. Seen in the long perspective of time, it seems too fantastic to be real. From her modest beginnings as a convenient fording place on the Tiber to her eventual destiny as the mistress of the Mediterranean, Rome offers a strange tale of fate, sacrifice, and indomitable willpower. The stern realities of war shaped Rome's policies from the very beginning.
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Excellent overview
- By jaime on 05-14-15
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The Great Democracies
- A History of the English Speaking Peoples, Volume IV
- By: Sir Winston Churchill
- Narrated by: Christian Rodska
- Length: 12 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
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The fourth and last volume in Churchill's famous account spans 1815 to 1901. It closes when the British Empire is at its peak, with a staggering one-fifth of the human race presided over by the longest reigning monarch in British history: Queen Victoria.
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A fitting conclusion to Sir Winston's narrative.
- By Vradeen Sengir on 02-11-19
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Winston Churchill
- By: John Keegan
- Narrated by: Richard Matthews
- Length: 5 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
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The eminent historian John Keegan charts Churchill's career, following his steadfast leadership during the catastrophic events of World War II while England was dangerously poised on the brink of collapse. With wonderful eloquence, Keegan illuminates Churchill's incredible strength during this crucial moment in history and his unshakable belief that democracy would always prevail.
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A good intro/summary
- By Sabrina on 01-07-06
By: John Keegan
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The March of Folly
- From Troy to Vietnam
- By: Barbara W. Tuchman
- Narrated by: Wanda McCaddon
- Length: 17 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
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In The March of Folly, two-time Pulitzer Prize winning historian Barbara Tuchman tackles the pervasive presence of folly in governments through the ages. Defining folly as the pursuit by governments of policies contrary to their own interests, despite the availability of feasible alternatives, Tuchman details four decisive turning points in history that illustrate the very heights of folly in government.
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Tuchman surprises me...
- By Plimtuna on 09-24-09
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Caesar
- Life of a Colossus
- By: Adrian Goldsworthy
- Narrated by: Derek Perkins
- Length: 24 hrs and 46 mins
- Unabridged
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Tracing the extraordinary trajectory of Julius Caesar's life, Adrian Goldsworthy covers not only the great Roman emperor's accomplishments as charismatic orator, conquering general, and powerful dictator but also lesser-known chapters. Ultimately, Goldsworthy realizes the full complexity of Caesar's character and shows why his political and military leadership continues to resonate some 2,000 years later.
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Caesar and his times
- By Mike From Mesa on 08-31-15
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The Politically Incorrect Guide to the British Empire
- By: H. W. Crocker III
- Narrated by: Ray Porter
- Length: 11 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
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Nothing offends liberals more than Western imperialism—it is racism, sexism, and chauvinism all in one. And of course the epitome of Western imperialism is the British Empire, covering at its height a quarter of the globe’s surface and ruling a quarter of the world’s population. Here, best-selling author H. W. Crocker III exposes how the British Empire was actually one of the greatest establishers and defenders of freedom in history.
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More Propaganda than History
- By Mike on 10-21-19
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A Peace to End All Peace
- The Fall of the Ottoman Empire and the Creation of the Modern Middle East
- By: David Fromkin
- Narrated by: David de Vries
- Length: 23 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
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The Middle East has long been a region of rival religions, ideologies, nationalisms, and ambitions. All of these conflicts are rooted in the region's political inheritance: the arrangements, unities, and divisions imposed by the Allies after the First World War. Author David Fromkin reveals how and why the Allies drew lines on an empty map that remade the geography and politics of the Middle East. Focusing on the formative years of 1914 to 1922, when all seemed possible, he delivers in this sweeping and magisterial book the definitive account of this defining time.
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Still A Great Book On The Topic
- By Nostromo on 02-03-19
By: David Fromkin
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The Fall of the Roman Empire
- A New History of Rome and the Barbarians
- By: Peter Heather
- Narrated by: Allan Robertson
- Length: 21 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
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The death of the Roman Empire is one of the perennial mysteries of world history. Now, in this groundbreaking book, Peter Heather proposes a stunning new solution: Centuries of imperialism turned the neighbors Rome called barbarians into an enemy capable of dismantling an Empire that had dominated their lives for so long. A leading authority on the late Roman Empire and on the barbarians, Heather relates the extraordinary story of how Europe's barbarians, transformed by centuries of contact with Rome on every possible level, eventually pulled the empire apart.
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A New HIstory but not a better history
- By Mario on 03-28-14
By: Peter Heather
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In the most definitive account to date, respected historian Charles Esdaile argues that the chief motivating factor for Napoleon was his insatiable desire for fame. More than a myth-busting portrait of Napoleon, however, this volume offers a panoramic view of the armed conflicts that spread so quickly out of revolutionary France to countries as remote as Sweden and Egypt.
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Not bad, nor what I was expecting
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Perfect introduction to Napoleon
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The story of Napoleon has been written many times. In some versions, he is a military genius, in others a war-obsessed tyrant. Here, historian Adam Zamoyski cuts through the mythology and explains Napoleon against the background of the European Enlightenment and what he was himself seeking to achieve. This most famous of men is also the most hidden of men, and Zamoyski dives deeper than any previous biographer to find him. Beautifully written, Napoleon brilliantly sets the man in his European context.
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Fascinating
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No description of battles
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In 1812 the most powerful man in the world assembled the largest army in history and marched on Moscow with the intention of consolidating his dominion. But within months, Napoleon's invasion of Russia—history's first example of total war—had turned into an epic military disaster. Over 400,000 French and Allied troops perished and Napoleon was forced to retreat.
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Very well done
- By Zach Simon on 06-25-24
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Bismarck
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In this compelling biography, historian A. J. P. Taylor reevaluates Bismarck's motives and methods, focusing on the chancellor's rise to power in the 1860s and his removal from office in 1890.
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Good, but read a primer first
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Not bad, nor what I was expecting
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Perfect introduction to Napoleon
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Fascinating
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No description of battles
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Very well done
- By Zach Simon on 06-25-24
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Bismarck
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Good, but read a primer first
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I really wanted to enjoy this -
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Andrew Roberts' Napoleon is the first one-volume biography to take advantage of the recent publication of Napoleon's thirty-three thousand letters, which radically transform our understanding of his character and motivation. At last we see him as he was: protean multitasker, decisive, surprisingly willing to forgive his enemies and his errant wife Josephine.
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What a dynamo!
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Caesar and his times
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From the author of Hitler: Ascent, 1889-1939 comes a riveting account of the dictator's final years, when he got the war he wanted but his leadership led to catastrophe for his nation, the world, and himself. Volker Ullrich offers fascinating new insight into Hitler's character and personality, vividly portraying the insecurity, obsession with minutiae, and narcissistic penchant for gambling that led Hitler to overrule his subordinates and then blame them for his failures.
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Had to return because of narration
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Heart of Europe
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The Holy Roman Empire lasted 1,000 years, far longer than ancient Rome. Yet this formidable dominion never inspired the awe of its predecessor. Voltaire quipped that it was neither holy, Roman, nor an empire. Yet as Peter H. Wilson shows, the Holy Roman Empire tells a millennial story of Europe better than the histories of individual nation-states.
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Mixed feelings on this one.
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Napoleon Unleashed
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Witness Napoleon Bonaparte's Rise and Fall: From an outsider on Corsica to the Emperor of France, Napoleon's journey is a tale of ambition, strategy, and leadership. This book delves deep into his life, revealing a story that transcends history and offers timeless lessons.
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A Journey through History
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Interesting approach to the two power relationship
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modern and cynical history of Napoleon
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Excellent story, the narration ruined it for me
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On Christmas Day, 800, Charlemagne was crowned "Emperor of the Romans" by Pope Leo III. Under his guidance the Carolingian Renaissance flourished, with his capital of Aachen becoming a center of learning and artistic genius. The legacy of Charlemagne on European history and culture is monumental. Yet, within 30 years of his death, his empire had fragmented. Who was this legendary ruler? How had he managed to rule these vast domains? And why has his legacy continued to influence Europeans to this day?
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Its well done
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In Merry England, in the time of old when good King Henry the Second ruled the land, there lived within the green glades of Sherwood Forest near Nottingham Town a famous outlaw whose name was Robin Hood. He stole from the rich and gave to the poor, and in so doing became an undying symbol of virtue.
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Childhood favorite brought to life
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Venice
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- Unabridged
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The Venetians' language and way of thinking set them aside from the rest of Italy. They are an island people, linked to the sea and to the tides rather than the land. This latest work from the incomparable Peter Ackroyd, like a magic gondola, transports its listeners to that sensual and surprising city. His account embraces facts and romance, conjuring up the atmosphere of the canals, bridges, and sunlit squares, the churches and the markets, the festivals and the flowers.
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An endless droning list.....
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What listeners say about Napoleon
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- George Bettasso
- 11-23-23
Napoleon
No dislikes. Napoleon soldier of destiny is another great book to read and listen. Info of Napoleon life, soldier, General, First Consul , Emperor. Narrator, very clear smoothing of the audible reading.
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- italoromano
- 11-10-23
Bored Stiff !
First let me state that I typically love Simon Vance’s narrations ( especially with fantasy novels) . However, his narration of Napoleon is , for me , too tedious to continue listening.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Das Licht
- 01-13-24
Details
I truly enjoyed the depth and richness of detail in this book. A definite gem…
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- Jacob
- 11-02-22
excellent
this first volume is an excellent and well researched piece. I look forwards to reading the next vplume
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- Tad Davis
- 03-25-19
Clarity
I'm generally allergic to multi-volume biographies: there aren't many people I'm willing to commit that much time to. I'm especially irked when a two-part biography suddenly expands into three parts. But for Napoleon, I have to make an exception.
Michael Broers has done a remarkable job laying out the arc of Napoleon’s career, up to (but not including) the War of the Third Coalition. His overall plan leaves him with plenty of space to fill in the blanks, and he provides another example of that paradox — that a rich bed of underlying detail can actually bring greater clarity rather than complexity to an account.
And so he brings clarity to Napoleon's domestic achievements — the consolidation of French law chief among them; to the aftermath of his first Italian campaign; to the complexity of his relationships with his brothers Joseph and Lucien; to the state of his marriage to Josephine; to the expansion of Napoleon's ambitions from First Consul to Emperor; to his brutal suppression of slave revolts in the Caribbean; and especially to the forces that gave rise to the Third Coalition.
The clarity is aided by Simon Vance’s reading, which is always the epitome of straightforward, well-paced narration. I see that the second volume is available in print. I hope it will soon be available in audio as well, and that Vance is able to bring his skills to this and to the third and final (?) volume.
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7 people found this helpful
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- Scott
- 05-17-22
Great view ofThe rise of Napoleon
The author is obviously predisposed to have a favorable impression of Napoleon. One might say he is a hero for the author. This favoritism do not detract from the book. The book, first of a two part series, cronciles the rise of Napoleon from immigrant from first council. The author gives a complete picture of the man and others in his orbit.
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- R
- 01-24-20
The most current biography of Napoleon. Great book
This is one of the most up-to-date, historiographically speaking, biographies of Napoleon. It's also probably one of the best recent biographies of Napoleon, as well. If you're looking for the definitive and unabridged biography of Napoleon, this is where you start.
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- suzelew
- 12-02-22
Great. Wish we could have rest of series.
Great book and read. Wish the other volumes (vols. II and III) were available. The work is thoroughly researched and the perspective well argued.
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- Cambronne
- 03-18-24
Truly engaging
I 've read numerous books on Napoleon and found this one fascinating. This book does an excellent job of putting the events of Napoleon's life in context. I gained an understanding of the motivations behind many of Napoleon's decisions as well as those of his enemies.
Excellent book
I hope they release the 2nd part of the book on audio and use the same narrator.
Simon Vance was brilliant as the narrator.
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- Alan
- 03-29-24
Slow no storyline
Very slow with too much minutiae rather than a bigger view of Napoleon’s life. To be honest it is a boring listen.
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