Napoleon by Vincent Cronin

Napoleon – A book written by Vincent Cronin,author born in 1920.

An exciting read. I would say a 5/5, if it wasnt for the uncertainty in the “true” picture of him.

From a benign point of view towards Napoleon this book paints an interesting, compelling man that seems both before his time, as well as someone fundamentally good, however with some personal shortcomings – mostly because of the time he was living in. It is almost as if Cronin felt sorry for him. The morale compass an old one from the time, but still admirable.

The shortcomings are according to Cronin mainly:
Impatience, over optimism, naivete towards human feelings.

The book does not mention women in an equal or good wayCronin bring up a few issues to point out that equality was not the same. but Cronin also make use of metaphores over women which seem to convey his own sentiments such as: France not longer being Napoleons mistress because she had “slept around” and did not consider him anymore her master. A few other semipsycological comments on how women are can be seen.

All in all, I enjoyed reading the book but the overall postive picture of Napoleon. But in the end it made me wonder how objective this book really was. Since my picture of him, being the first book, was positive. Was it my own projections or the author? Maybe both. What about all the negatives people have said about Napoleon? etc.

If history is written by the victors, in that case this book is an excellent counterweigh to a negative tone. This book is as Cronin says a more humane picture of the man behind the name.

Napoleon, as by Cronin seems to be as an energetic superman, who is good towards other, sometimes too harsh, a administrator “with eyes for detail but no loosing sight of the big picture” and reformer who exported the revolutionary freedomes to the people of Europe.

Napoleon was according to Cronin someone who had vision, extreme focus and vigour, talent and audacity.
He is someone to look up to and even sympathize with.

Some quotes:

Here Napoleon about life:

A bridge thrown over a fast river. Travellers are crossing it, some dawdling. Others running, some going straight, others meandering. One group, arms dangling, stops to sleep or watch the river and there are others, laden with burdens and taking no rest, who tire themselves tyring to catch soap bubbes, of every colour which charlatans blow out into the void from richly decorated platforms. As soon as they are touched these bubbles vanish, sullying the hand that has reached for them.

“Napoleon, we know, was a perfectionist and, like all perfectionists went wrong were subject to deep disillusion.” -Cronin about Napoleon:
“The essential thing is to be afraid last” – Napoleon said to Alexander of Russia.
“Everything is matter, more or less organized” – Napoleon on Religion.
“If your number is up, no point in worrying” – Napoleon in battle.
“He wanted more from life than happiness” – Cronin about Napoleons love for Josephine.