Napoleon: His Wives and Women

by Christopher Hibbert

Hardcover, 2002

Status

Available

Genres

Collection

Edwin Mitoma Collection

Publication

W W Norton & Co Inc (2002), Edition: 1st Edition, 448 pages

Description

A masterly biography of Napoleon, concentrating on his private life, by the historian described by Stella Tillyard as 'a master portraitist of great men's private lives' and by Amanda Foreman as 'one of England's greatest living historical writers'. Modern history has produced one single myth on a heroic scale to rival those of Alexander and Caesar - that of Napoleon. The continuing fascination of this astonishingly gifted man is reflected in the number of books published each year on various aspects of the Napoleonic legend: some 250,000 volumes in all since Napoleon's mysterious death in 1821. What is still needed is now provided by Christopher Hibbert: an authoritative up-to-date account of Napoleon's private life at all stages of his developing and extraordinary career, based on the fruits of modern research, his character, interests and tastes, his friendships, enmities and love affairs, his relations with the members of his remarkable family, the impressions he made on his contemporaries away from the council chamber and the battlefield, his personal life at war, in exile and as emperor in peacetime, the mystery surrounding his death: in short, the man revealed behind the soldier, statesman and legend.… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member CindyBytes

This is a remarkably well researched book by the respected historian and author Christopher Hibbert. A sensational read for anyone who is interested in the intimate lives and loves of Napoleon. After reading this book, the reader will have learnt the obsessive, selfish, domineering control freak,

we knew of his military and political life, was part of his personal life as well as his love interests. It appears Napoleon wasn't as amorous when the woman of his desires wasn't in fear of him and giving into complete submission. Yet we also see a romantic, emotional man who so desired to be loved and respected. I believe the crudeness of his behavior (at times), towards not only women, but men too, was part of his own fearful inadequacies; the so called Napoleon complex. Still, what a fascinating, perplexing personality he seems to have been. Regardless of Napoleon's crudity, rude behavior and at times violent callousness, there were Napoleon's surprising acts of compassion, love and devotion to the people who knew and loved him.

This objective piece of labor allows the reader to come away with his or her own personal opinions of the private Napoleon and the people in his life. Starting with Napoleon's sometimes fierce, compulsive but always enduring love of Josephine to his respectful, and some say fearful love of his second wife Marie-Louise, in addition to his lusty, conquering affections for his Polish mistress, Marie Walewska. The reader obtains a glimpse of his relationship with his mother and his sisters in a much more provocative light as well. Hibbert also includes a long list of minor mistresses and female acquaintances, in full delicious details.

Through this earnest study of the private man, Napoleon, we get a peek at the perks, quirks, oddities and passions of a captivating man. `Napoleon: His Wives and Women' is a studious read and an important one too for the hardcore Napoleon reader.

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