This book review was written by Eugene Kernes
“Above all he was no totalitarian
dictator, as many have been eager to suggest: he may have established an
unprecedentedly efficient surveillance system, but he had no interest in
controlling every aspect of his subjects’ lives. Nor did he want the lands he conquered to be
ruled directly by Frenchmen. He believed
that one can control foreign lands only by winning over the population and
sought accordingly to present himself in terms that would make him sympathetic
to the locals, feigning sympathy for their religion as a means to an end.” –
Andrew Roberts, Introduction, Pages 37-38
“A victorious, hungry army pillages. Napoleon was genuinely concerned by the
conduct of his troops and wanted to keep the devastation in check. Four days earlier he had published an Order
of the Day blaming ‘fearful pillage’ on ‘perverse men, who join their corps
only after the battle, and who commit excesses which dishonour the army and the
French name.’ He authorized generals to
shoot any officers who allowed it, though there are no examples of this
actually happening.” – Andrew Roberts, Chapter 4: Italy, Page 147
“In his six days at Malta Napoleon expelled all but fourteen
of the Knights and replaced the island’s medieval administration with a governing
council; dissolved the monasteries; introduced street lighting and paving;
freed all political prisoners; installed fountains and reformed the hospitals,
postal service and university, which was now to teach science as well as the
humanities.” – Andrew Roberts, Chapter 7: Egypt, Pages 241-242
Is This An Overview?
There was more to Napoleon than military acumen. Napoleon’s lasting influence was on the
culture, as laws became equitable to everyone, made status based on merit,
improved educational quality, enabled administration to be more efficient, and
secularized society while trying to be respect those who were religious. Many lands were conquered by Napoleon’s
forces, with Napoleon being courteous to the conquered. Napoleon wanted to gain the people’s
approval, which would enable control of foreign lands with the support of the
population. Through Napoleon’s efforts,
the conquered lands had their infrastructure and institutions improved. The army was to be respectful of the local communities
and ways of being, to prevent creating conditions for disapproving the
French. Napoleon tried to limit the
army’s pillaging after a victory.
Caveats?
There is a lack of reasons and explanations for why events
occurred. The book focuses on Napoleon’s
actions and decisions throughout participated events. The details of the various conflicts are
provided, without explaining the reason for the events or conflicts. Focusing on the details of what happened can
prevent potential misunderstanding of subjective reasons that people provide,
but the events lack meaning without the explanations.
Among the details of Napoleon’s life that are provided,
military affairs are prominent.
Napoleon’s family, and love life, along with French culture, and
politics are provided but are relegated to military affairs. For an understanding of French society, and
history, additional research would be needed.
