Napoleon's Road to Glory

Rating:
Summary: Very good book!
Review: Along with lots of publications on Napoleon and his time currently on the market, this is very good analysis and scientific approach to the subject. What is most important, the book is written in very easy language, and it is a pleasure to read. Mr. Markham has definitely done his homework; his source table is very extensive and useful for further references. More importantly, the author supplemented his research with actual documents and artifacts from his own collection, which is rare in this days and therefore more valid. I would like to recommend this book to anyone interested in Napoleon and his times - moreover it would be nice to bring it over to as many readers as possible and perhaps to translate it to other languages.
This book should be at every Napoleonic scholar library!

Rating:
Summary: Splendid
Review: David Markham has written a wonderfully descriptive book that is great fun to read; I couldn't put it down. This fine work effortlessly interweaves Napoleon's life as a political figure/ruler with his adventures and conquests on the battlefield and in the bedroom. "Napoleon's Road to Glory," filled with unusual rare art, includes colorful revelations about his love for Empresses Josephine and Marie-Louise, as well as his relationships with a succession of mistresses. A terrific gift -- perfect for collectors as well as anyone interested in a clear, comprehensive overview of Napoleon's life and career. Includes exciting, vivid descriptions of the "little Corporal's" victories at Marengo, Austerlitz and other battles. Just don't start reading this at bedtime, like I did, if you expect to get any sleep.
Diana Haig - author of "Walks Through Napoleon and Josephine's Paris"

Rating:
Summary: A Compelling Biography of Napoleon
Review: Napoleon Bonaparte is one of the compelling figures in the annals of history. Thousands of books have been written about the man, his contemporaries and the events that were shaped by his life. David Markham now presents us with a compelling biography of the man who rose from lesser Corsican nobility to become the Emperor of the French. He was both loved and hated in his own time, and historians and writers over the past two hundred years have found it most difficult, if not impossible, to be objective in their approach to the man and the period of history that he dominated.

Markham has written a good concise biography of Napoleon that is historically accurate and captures the essence of the man. He is fundamentally sympathetic with respect to his subject without being totally seduced by the legends that have grown up about the "Great Man." While praising his accomplishments on the battlefield, his organizational abilities, the foresight of the "Napoleonic" Code and his tolerance of the Islam and the Arab population on his Egyptian Campaign, etc., Markham is also quick to criticize his weaknesses and mistakes.

Napoleon's Road to Glory is much more than a military biography of Napoleon. Markham has produced a well-rounded picture of the man: the general, the lawgiver, the administrator and the lover. The author's insight into Napoleon's relationships with his family, Josephine, his marshals and members of his court provide interesting and enjoyable reading. The book is well written and contains a good bibliography of primary and secondary sources. The extensive index makes it easy for the reader to find information on individuals and events. It will be enjoyable reading for anyone interested in the Napoleonic era.

Jerry Gallaher, President
Napoleon Alliance
Author, The Iron Marshal