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Napoleon: The Path to Power, 1769-1799
A major biography of the young Napoleon Bonaparte and his improbable rise to power“A satisfying, psychologically convincing account of Napoleon’s early years. . . . Even-handed and authoritative.”—Adam Zamoyski, Sunday Times (London) At just thirty years of age, Napoleon Bonaparte ruled the most powerful country in Europe. But the journey that led him there was neither inevitable nor smooth. This authoritative biography focuses on the evolution of Napoleon as a leader and debunks many of the myths that are often repeated about him—sensational myths often propagated by Napoleon himself. Here, Philip Dwyer sheds new light on Napoleon’s inner life—especially his darker side and his passions—to reveal a ruthless, manipulative, driven man whose character has been disguised by the public image he carefully fashioned to suit the purposes of his ambition.
Dwyer focuses acutely on Napoleon’s formative years, from his Corsican origins to his French education, from his melancholy youth to his flirtation with radicals of the French Revolution, from his first military campaigns in Italy and Egypt to the political-military coup that brought him to power in 1799. One of the first truly modern politicians, Napoleon was a master of “spin,” using the media to project an idealized image of himself. Dwyer’s biography of the young Napoleon provides a fascinating new perspective on one of the great figures of modern history.
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Napoleon: The Path to Power, 1769-1799
A major biography of the young Napoleon Bonaparte and his improbable rise to power“A satisfying, psychologically convincing account of Napoleon’s early years. . . . Even-handed and authoritative.”—Adam Zamoyski, Sunday Times (London) At just thirty years of age, Napoleon Bonaparte ruled the most powerful country in Europe. But the journey that led him there was neither inevitable nor smooth. This authoritative biography focuses on the evolution of Napoleon as a leader and debunks many of the myths that are often repeated about him—sensational myths often propagated by Napoleon himself. Here, Philip Dwyer sheds new light on Napoleon’s inner life—especially his darker side and his passions—to reveal a ruthless, manipulative, driven man whose character has been disguised by the public image he carefully fashioned to suit the purposes of his ambition.
Dwyer focuses acutely on Napoleon’s formative years, from his Corsican origins to his French education, from his melancholy youth to his flirtation with radicals of the French Revolution, from his first military campaigns in Italy and Egypt to the political-military coup that brought him to power in 1799. One of the first truly modern politicians, Napoleon was a master of “spin,” using the media to project an idealized image of himself. Dwyer’s biography of the young Napoleon provides a fascinating new perspective on one of the great figures of modern history.
A major biography of the young Napoleon Bonaparte and his improbable rise to power“A satisfying, psychologically convincing account of Napoleon’s early years. . . . Even-handed and authoritative.”—Adam Zamoyski, Sunday Times (London) At just thirty years of age, Napoleon Bonaparte ruled the most powerful country in Europe. But the journey that led him there was neither inevitable nor smooth. This authoritative biography focuses on the evolution of Napoleon as a leader and debunks many of the myths that are often repeated about him—sensational myths often propagated by Napoleon himself. Here, Philip Dwyer sheds new light on Napoleon’s inner life—especially his darker side and his passions—to reveal a ruthless, manipulative, driven man whose character has been disguised by the public image he carefully fashioned to suit the purposes of his ambition.
Dwyer focuses acutely on Napoleon’s formative years, from his Corsican origins to his French education, from his melancholy youth to his flirtation with radicals of the French Revolution, from his first military campaigns in Italy and Egypt to the political-military coup that brought him to power in 1799. One of the first truly modern politicians, Napoleon was a master of “spin,” using the media to project an idealized image of himself. Dwyer’s biography of the young Napoleon provides a fascinating new perspective on one of the great figures of modern history.
Philip Dwyer is senior lecturer at The University of Newcastle in Australia. He is author or editor of numerous publications on Napoleonic Europe, and is currently writing a biography of Napoleon’s later years.
Table of Contents
List of Maps xiii A Note on the Use of Names xv Prologue: The Bridge at Arcola 1 The Outsider, 1769-1792 The Pleasure of Recognition Imaginary Landscapes 11 Carlo and Paoli 14 'A Violent Enthusiasm for Liberty' 19 The Choice 22 A 'Vigorous and Rude' Education 26 'You Will Be My Avenger' 'A Sombre and Cantankerous Youth' 33 Death of the Father 38 A Corsican in France, a Frenchman in Corsica 42 Corsica in Revolution An Island in Turmoil 53 Working towards the Revolution 58 The Return of the Babbo 66 Denunciations 72 Ambition Awakened The Republican 76 'I Wanted You to Be Free' 83 The Easter Sunday Murders 88 Buonaparte, Paris and the Revolution 92 The Revolutionary, 1792-1796 Disillusion Increasing Tensions 105 The Expedition to Sardinia 106 The Rupture 113 'Perpetual Infamy' 120 'It Is Better to Eat Than Be Eaten' 122 The Jacobin Refugees 127 The Situation in the Midi 130 The Siege of Toulon 133 'Ville Infame' 140 Italy - the First Plans 145 Shifting Political Sands Arrest 151 'My Tender Eugenie' 159 Paris: The Decisive Months 163 The Political Appointee General Vendemiaire 171 'Seizing the Moon with His Teeth' 178 'A Proud Cajoler' 184 The Conquering Hero, 1796-1798 Innovation First Impressions 195 An Army of Brigands 199 Defeating Piedmont 204 'The Moral Force of Victory' 209 Conquest and Pillage The Entry into Milan 219 'I Thought Only of You' 223 The Price of Liberty 225 Lombardy in Revolt 227 Liberating Italian Art 234 'My Life is a Perpetual Nightmare' 238 Castiglione 245 Artists and Soldiers, Politics and Love Rebirth - Arcola 248 Exploiting Victory 254 Love and Self-Pity 258 Breaking Free 265 Rivoli 268 The Apprenticeship of Power Invading the Papal States 273 'Turn Their Thoughts towards the Idea of Liberty' 277 'Has the Rhine Been Crossed?' 282 The Liberator of Italy 286 The Veronese Easter 293 The Court at Mombello 296 Bonaparte the 'Italique' Defending 'Liberty and its Friends' 304 Entering the Political Fray: The Coup of Fructidor 311 'Drunk with Happiness' 314 'A Pure and Great Giant of Glory' 320 The Civilizing Hero, 1798-1799 A Grandiose Exile The Decision 333 The Philosopher General 343 Moments of Doubt 347 Confronting Egypt Toulon 351 The Crossing 354 Malta 356 'Like Fish on the Plains of Saint-Denis' 361 Sand, Melancholy and Suicide 367 Conciliation and Terror: Governing Egypt Tearing Away the Veil 375 Adapting 378 Disaffection 383 Distractions 385 The Plague 390 Repression 391 Prisoner of his Conquest The Battle of the Nile 395 The Revolt of Cairo 401 The Decision to Invade Syria 407 The Limits of Imagination 'All Human Effort against Me is Useless' 412 The Massacre at Jaffa 416 Fear and Contagion 422 The Siege of St John of Acre 424 The End of the Dream Retreat and Revenge 430 Aboukir: Defeat Atoned 439 The Flight from Egypt 442 Seizing Power, 1799 The Return of the Saviour Like an 'Electric Shock' 449 'The Man Who Would Save France' 452 France on the Eve of the Coup 462 The 'Sword' 468 Negotiating a Role 470 The Plot 480 The Coup as Farce The First Act 483 The Second Act 490 Denouement 495 The Final Scene 502 Epilogue In Search of the Saviour 505 In Search of Bonaparte 514 Notes 521 Select Bibliography 599 Acknowledgements 627 Index 629
