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Rating: 
Summary: A moving and masterful portrait of Bonaparte
Review: Emil Ludwig's work remains classic despite its age. It is true that the book does not have the maps which would help the reader to locate the geographical dimension of Napoleon's carreer and actions, and the author does not include dates inside his text, but if someone wants a pure operational history of the French armies can look to the appropriate atlases like that of V. Esposito and J. Elting, or the magnificent "The Campaigns of Napoleon" by David Chandler. The main merit of Ludwig's book is its immediacy, the clarity of Napoleon's thoughts and decision making and of course the excellent writing which has an astonishing freshness no matter how many times one reads the book. By seting himself free from the grip of time and place Ludwig can build his story like a fairy tale, which I found truly remarkable and unusual. There are many studies regarding Napoleon as a man and a general, but this one is definitely one of the best.
Rating:
Summary: napoleon
Review: NAPOLEON
BY EMIL LUDWIG
Reviewed by Dhirender K Singh
Emil Ludwig's biography of Napoleon continues its remarkable presence as a classic of Napoleonic literature and has yet to be surpassed for its unique presentation writing in the present tense. Ludwig brings to life his subjects character better than any other biography of Napoleon. Ludwig (1881_1948) was 45 and living in Germany when he published "Napoleon" in 1926, and the work was translated and published in the following year, before he turned 30,Ludwig, wrote 12 plays, half of which were produced, and one of them featuring napoleon. Following the publication of the Napoleon several other biographies by Ludwig were translated into English including Jesus , Lincoln, Franklin Roosevelt and Beethoven. The biography is divided into five books one, "The Island"(birth to marriage); two "The Torrent"(army of Italy to first counsel); Three, "The River"(Marengo to birth of Napoleon 11); four, "The Sea" (Russia to Waterloo); and Five, "The Rock" (St Helena) Each book begins with a quote from "Goethe". Although Ludwig does not include a bibliography, the concluding four pages, the "Envoy", he states," .In this book, all the data are recorded facts, except the soliloquies." He had the "brilliant technique" and the ability to "analyze character so admirably. Infact he is the student of character
Ludwig `s admiration for Napoleon is mainly intellectual, though morally he is prepared to go farther in his support than many critics. He has tried to write the inner history of Napoleon and has put minor attention to the battles and campaigns .His self confidence confers on him a natural dignity that amazes and angers the legitimist world, which believes dignity to be consonant only with heredity and culture .His energy is concentrated on human beings. Very rarely does he come into conflict with natural forces; and whenever he does so, he is beaten. The imaginative power is also the source of his knowledge of men and his guide to the management of men . And finally the affect underlying his energy and his imagination are dominated by the clarity of his thoughts. His work reads like a novel instead of like a history book. Ludwig has an extraordinary capacity for seeing and judging the "true inwardness "of people and events." Ludwig became a Swiss citizen in 1932 and at the time of his death in 1948 had several biographies in progress including Alexander, Karl William von Humboldt and King David .His Napoleon earned a solid place among Napoleonic biographies and continues to have an impact today. In this book Emil Ludwig tried to write the inner story of Napoleon. He is one of the most illuminating figure in modern history .he was a man of extraordinary qualities and at the same time suffered from extraordinary failings .His ambition was power, his dream, a vast empire, and his passion, wars and victories. People loved him and presented him with power, gave him their sons to satisfy his passion for continuous warfare till he exhausted France of her manpower. Great Kingdoms collapsed before him and all Europe trembled at his name .He terrorized many Kings into subjugation till he was subjugated himself in a fateful battle and met his end in a tragic manner as the `Prisoner of Europe"
Here is the story of this dauntless man, the story of great French Revolution from which this brilliant commander emerged; the story of his striking military campaigns, his mighty war and conquests, his colorful love affairs and the woman who ruled him; and the story of intrigues that surrounded him and led to his downfall. Napoleon was a great artillerist with an inherited versatility and vigorous imagination he had a very strong family feelings .his rational reasoning, clannishness, cosmopolitan nature, intrigues plans demean our and venture work always inspired his men. His ability and affection of soldiers enabled him to usurp the command. His confidence level was very high and he thus refused to work under General Killerman (considered the best general at that time) He said, "One bad general is better to two good Generals. The book also portrays him as a great lover and an immaculate politician. His love for Josephine was so deep that the last word s he spoke prior to dying was Josephine. He created and structured his constituency in a very effective manner. He promulgated strict canons and was very harsh upon the culprits. His decisions were adamant, but dealt leniently with two German women, who appealed straight to his heart. The book also says that he slanders as well as the tough talented who led one of the greatest armies in military history. Men, who marched the length and breadth of Europe, entered every capitol of continental Europe as conquerors. He was the great soldier, he had enemies all round. There were three attempts on his life but he escaped all the times .His attempts to step out of Europe were thwarted by intrinsic chaos. This book has an enormous temporal of Napoleon's experiences and makes interesting reading .The momentum of the novel slows down after Napoleon's marriage .The great battles won are written very systematically with great expounding, but the ploys adopted are not mentioned .The book has nicely brought out the complete biography of Napoleon in an exemplary manner .It has been felt that Napoleon would have achieved much more, had France supported him in his ploys.
Rating:
Summary: napoleon
Review: NAPOLEON
BY EMIL LUDWIG
Reviewed by Dhirender K Singh
Emil Ludwig's biography of Napoleon continues its remarkable presence as a classic of Napoleonic literature and has yet to be surpassed for its unique presentation writing in the present tense. Ludwig brings to life his subjects character better than any other biography of Napoleon. Ludwig (1881_1948) was 45 and living in Germany when he published "Napoleon" in 1926, and the work was translated and published in the following year, before he turned 30,Ludwig, wrote 12 plays, half of which were produced, and one of them featuring napoleon. Following the publication of the Napoleon several other biographies by Ludwig were translated into English including Jesus , Lincoln, Franklin Roosevelt and Beethoven. The biography is divided into five books one, "The Island"(birth to marriage); two "The Torrent"(army of Italy to first counsel); Three, "The River"(Marengo to birth of Napoleon 11); four, "The Sea" (Russia to Waterloo); and Five, "The Rock" (St Helena) Each book begins with a quote from "Goethe". Although Ludwig does not include a bibliography, the concluding four pages, the "Envoy", he states," .In this book, all the data are recorded facts, except the soliloquies." He had the "brilliant technique" and the ability to "analyze character so admirably. Infact he is the student of character
Ludwig 's admiration for Napoleon is mainly intellectual, though morally he is prepared to go farther in his support than many critics. He has tried to write the inner history of Napoleon and has put minor attention to the battles and campaigns .His self confidence confers on him a natural dignity that amazes and angers the legitimist world, which believes dignity to be consonant only with heredity and culture .His energy is concentrated on human beings. Very rarely does he come into conflict with natural forces; and whenever he does so, he is beaten. The imaginative power is also the source of his knowledge of men and his guide to the management of men . And finally the affect underlying his energy and his imagination are dominated by the clarity of his thoughts. His work reads like a novel instead of like a history book. Ludwig has an extraordinary capacity for seeing and judging the "true inwardness "of people and events." Ludwig became a Swiss citizen in 1932 and at the time of his death in 1948 had several biographies in progress including Alexander, Karl William von Humboldt and King David .His Napoleon earned a solid place among Napoleonic biographies and continues to have an impact today. In this book Emil Ludwig tried to write the inner story of Napoleon. He is one of the most illuminating figure in modern history .he was a man of extraordinary qualities and at the same time suffered from extraordinary failings .His ambition was power, his dream, a vast empire, and his passion, wars and victories. People loved him and presented him with power, gave him their sons to satisfy his passion for continuous warfare till he exhausted France of her manpower. Great Kingdoms collapsed before him and all Europe trembled at his name .He terrorized many Kings into subjugation till he was subjugated himself in a fateful battle and met his end in a tragic manner as the 'Prisoner of Europe"
Here is the story of this dauntless man, the story of great French Revolution from which this brilliant commander emerged; the story of his striking military campaigns, his mighty war and conquests, his colorful love affairs and the woman who ruled him; and the story of intrigues that surrounded him and led to his downfall. Napoleon was a great artillerist with an inherited versatility and vigorous imagination he had a very strong family feelings .his rational reasoning, clannishness, cosmopolitan nature, intrigues plans demean our and venture work always inspired his men. His ability and affection of soldiers enabled him to usurp the command. His confidence level was very high and he thus refused to work under General Killerman (considered the best general at that time) He said, "One bad general is better to two good Generals. The book also portrays him as a great lover and an immaculate politician. His love for Josephine was so deep that the last word s he spoke prior to dying was Josephine. He created and structured his constituency in a very effective manner. He promulgated strict canons and was very harsh upon the culprits. His decisions were adamant, but dealt leniently with two German women, who appealed straight to his heart. The book also says that he slanders as well as the tough talented who led one of the greatest armies in military history. Men, who marched the length and breadth of Europe, entered every capitol of continental Europe as conquerors. He was the great soldier, he had enemies all round. There were three attempts on his life but he escaped all the times .His attempts to step out of Europe were thwarted by intrinsic chaos. This book has an enormous temporal of Napoleon's experiences and makes interesting reading .The momentum of the novel slows down after Napoleon's marriage .The great battles won are written very systematically with great expounding, but the ploys adopted are not mentioned .The book has nicely brought out the complete biography of Napoleon in an exemplary manner .It has been felt that Napoleon would have achieved much more, had France supported him in his ploys.
Rating:
Summary: napoleon
Review: NAPOLEON
BY EMIL LUDWIG
Reviewed by Dhirender K Singh
Emil Ludwig's biography of Napoleon continues its remarkable presence as a classic of Napoleonic literatureand has yet to be surpassed for its unique presentation writing in the present tense. Ludwig brings to life his subjects character better than any other biography of Napoleon. Ludwig (1881_1948) was 45 and living in Germany when he published "Napoleon" in 1926, and the work was translated and published in the following year, before he turned 30,Ludwig, wrote 12 plays, half of which were produced, and one of them featuring napoleon. Following the publication of the Napoleon several other biographies by Ludwig were translated into English including Jesus , Lincoln, Franklin Roosevelt and Beethoven. The biography is divided into five books one, "The Island"(birth to marriage); two "The Torrent"(army of Italy to first counsel); Three, "The River"(Marengo to birth of Napoleon 11); four, "The Sea" (Russia to Waterloo); and Five, "The Rock" (St Helena) Each book begins with a quote from "Goethe". Although Ludwig does not include a bibliography, the concluding four pages, the "Envoy", he states," .In this book, all the data are recorded facts, except the soliloquies." He had the "brilliant technique" and the ability to "analyze character so admirably. Infact he is the student of character
Ludwig 's admiration for Napoleon is mainly intellectual, though morally he is prepared to go farther in his support than many critics. He has tried to write the inner history of Napoleon and has put minor attention to the battles and campaigns .His self confidence confers on him a natural dignity that amazes and angers the legitimist world, which believes dignity to be consonant only with heredity and culture .His energy is concentrated on human beings. Very rarely does he come into conflict with natural forces; and whenever he does so, he is beaten. The imaginative power is also the source of his knowledge of men and his guide to the management of men . And finally the affect underlying his energy and his imagination are dominated by the clarity of his thoughts. His work reads like a novel instead of like a history book. Ludwig has an extraordinary capacity for seeing and judging the "true inwardness "of people and events." Ludwig became a Swiss citizen in 1932 and at the time of his death in 1948 had several biographies in progress including Alexander, Karl William von Humboldt and King David .His Napoleon earned a solid place among Napoleonic biographies and continues to have an impact today. In this book Emil Ludwig tried to write the inner story of Napoleon. He is one of the most illuminating figure in modern history .he was a man of extraordinary qualities and at the same time suffered from extraordinary failings .His ambition was power, his dream, a vast empire, and his passion, wars and victories. People loved him and presented him with power, gave him their sons to satisfy his passion for continuous warfare till he exhausted France of her manpower. Great Kingdoms collapsed before him and all Europe trembled at his name .He terrorized many Kings into subjugation till he was subjugated himself in a fateful battle and met his end in a tragic manner as the 'Prisoner of Europe"
Here is the story of this dauntless man, the story of great French Revolution from which this brilliant commander emerged; the story of his striking military campaigns, his mighty war and conquests, his colorful love affairs and the woman who ruled him; and the story of intrigues that surrounded him and led to his downfall. Napoleon was a great artillerist with an inherited versatility and vigorous imagination he had a very strong family feelings .his rational reasoning, clannishness, cosmopolitan nature, intrigues plans demean our and venture work always inspired his men. His ability and affection of soldiers enabled him to usurp the command. His confidence level was very high and he thus refused to work under General Killerman (considered the best general at that time) He said, "One bad general is better to two good Generals. The book also portrays him as a great lover and an immaculate politician. His love for Josephine was so deep that the last word s he spoke prior to dying was Josephine. He created and structured his constituency in a very effective manner. He promulgated strict canons and was very harsh upon the culprits. His decisions were adamant, but dealt leniently with two German women, who appealed straight to his heart. The book also says that he slanders as well as the tough talented who led one of the greatest armies in military history. Men, who marched the length and breadth of Europe, entered every capitol of continental Europe as conquerors. He was the great soldier, he had enemies all round. There were three attempts on his life but he escaped all the times .His attempts to step out of Europe were thwarted by intrinsic chaos. This book has an enormous temporal of Napoleon's experiences and makes interesting reading .The momentum of the novel slows down after Napoleon's marriage .The great battles won are written very systematically with great expounding, but the ploys adopted are not mentioned .The book has nicely brought out the complete biography of Napoleon in an exemplary manner .It has been felt that Napoleon would have achieved much more, had France supported him in his ploys.
Rating: 
Summary: the wrong choice for a Napoleon book
Review: This book is a real stinker. The first problem I noticed was that all the dates for the events were listed in an index at the front of the book. In the text of the book, dates are not noted, even in footnotes. THERE ARE NO FOOTNOTES!! It makes no sense to me to place the important dates outside of the narrative, so the reader has no perspective of how much time is passing. Why should I have to flip to the front of the book every time I want to know the date for the event? My copy is old, so maybe this was changed in later printings. I doubt it. The narrative itself is not bad. If it were a novel it would be adequate, though with little dialogue. Ludwig does a passable job of explaining Napoleon's personality and motivations. Unfortunately, this does not save the book from disaster. Although we get decent descriptions of Napoleon's motives, they are a little too interpretive, which makes the reader feel like he is reading about a fiction character, not a real person. I was very disappointed. Because I am such an admirer of Wellington, I was looking forward to reading about his nemisis. I picked the wrong book. If you want to really learn about Napoleon, read something else! Pass over this book and get one that includes the dates in the text, has useful footnotes, and perhaps has pictures and maps.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Biography
Review: This book is written as a novel. That is how Emil Ludwig writes all his books. The book is very informative and very entertaining which differs from most other monotonous and boring biographies found out there. Ludwig did an extensive research before writing this book, and this is his well know masterpiece; other books by Ludwig are Beethoven, Jesus, Bolivar all written in the same maner. You mostly don't find footnotes in novels, so the complain written by the reader above...
Rating:
Summary: A unique perspective on a unique character
Review: This work concentrates of the huge body of letters the subject wrote throughout his life. The central focus of the book is Napoleon's relations with his largely disloyal and useless family members, who owed their success, such as it was, only to his genius for leadership. The author has a humorous writing style which should receive a larger audience. Highly recommended. Writer was justifiably famous during his lifetime.
Rating:
Summary: A unique perspective on a unique character
Review: This work concentrates of the huge body of letters the subject wrote throughout his life. The central focus of the book is Napoleon's relations with his largely disloyal and useless family members, who owed their success, such as it was, only to his genius for leadership. The author has a humorous writing style which should receive a larger audience. Highly recommended. Writer was justifiably famous during his lifetime.
Rating: 
Summary: Melodrama...and the emperor!
Review: While this is an impressive work, it has many qualities that keep me from recommending it. Others have mentioned the dearth of dates for historical context. I will concentrate on the most aggravating quality of all. Ludwig's use of the present tense is an affectation that not only grates but casts doubt. Is this history or fiction? Combine this with his penchant for melodramatic exclamations and it frequently feels like you are on a "living history" bus tour with William Shatner as guide: "Look! There comes Napoleon down the street! Now he will exact his revenge on Paoli. Never again shall they laugh at Bonaparte. Insolent fools!" The information can be insightful but I can't tell where the facts end and the fanciful editorializing begins.
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