No comments about The Papers of Thomas Jefferson, Volume 31: 1 February 1799 to 31 May 1800 (Papers of Thomas Jefferson).

5 comments about Napoleon's Road to Glory.

1. Napoleon's Road to Glory is a well-written and well-researched biography that could easily replace Felix Markham's classic biography of the French emperor to become the new standard biography of Napoleon I. One important way that David Markham, unlike the earlier Markham, improves upon the presentation of the older biography is by supplying numerous endnotes that provide readers with reference points for future research into certain key and fascinating aspects of Napoleon's compelling life. Moreover, David Markham's book does not suffer from the problems of obvious authorial bias that plague books such as Alan Schom's Napoleon Bonaparte.
   I am especially pleased to see that he included sections on Napoleon's religious policies and vision of European unity (highlighted even more in his Napoleon for Dummies), as well as comparisons of Napoleon to earlier leaders like Alexander the Great. David Markham provides an overview of Napoleon's settlement with the Catholic Church, including an overview of the background of the situation inherited by Napoleon before Markham addresses how Napoleon sought to resolve the religious divisions of the French Revolution. Moreover, Markham, who bases most of his material on Napoleon and the Jews from Ben Weider's work, explains that Napoleon's proclamation declaring Palestine an independent Jewish state even served as part of David Ben Gurion's argument that the United Nations should recognize Israel in 1947, roughly one hundred and fifty years after Napoleon planned to issue his proclamation! Markham reminds us that Napoleon was after many kinds of peace: domestic, foreign, and religious.
   Napoleon reopened the University of Pavia and granted its professors liberal stipends. In 1808, he created the Academic Palms as a reward for excellence in teaching. In Napoleon's Road to Glory, Markham describes Napoleon's improvements to Paris and other cities in France, Italy, and Switzerland as a parallel to the public works projects initiated by Julius Caesar. David Markham seconds Geoffrey Ellis's designation as the consular period as a Pax Napoleonica. As Markham puts it, if Napoleon "were Caesar, then the Consulate was his Pax Romana even in the years when there was no actual peace." Markham adds that some "consider the Consulate to have been something of a golden age of French culture . . ."
   The what if?'s of history also abound in this book, as does the logic behind Napoleon's foreign policy. Readers learn, for example, that a report published "by Colonel Sébastiani . . . suggested that France could easily retake Egypt" and Markham explains Napoleon`s desire to keep the Belgian departments, because much "of Belgium is French-speaking and had always been seen as a potential part of France." And imagine the consequences had Napoleon married a Russian bride and managed to avoid invading the Russian Empire in the year following the appearance of the above quotation! Instead, the Franco-Russian alliance rapidly collapsed in such an extreme fashion that in a proclamation to his troops in 1812, Tsar Alexander cited "difference of religion" as one of the reasons why Russian peasants now consider themselves as Napoleon's "irreconcilable enemies." What is more, the king of Naples turned on Napoleon following Napoleon's defeat at Leipzig in 1813, because Marshal Murat "feared that Napoleon had expressed a resolution to . . . incorporate Naples with the kingdom of Italy."
   I have graded many history assignments in my academic career at two universities and were I to assign a grade to this impressive volume, I would overwhelmingly give the book a solid A+!



2. I'm giving this book 4 stars (average of 5 stars for readibility and interest, 3 stars for critical reasoning). I can't agree more with the previous reviewer's comments; though an immensely enjoyable book to read, I was very disappointed with the lack of any serious or credible critique of the remarkable Napoleon. The book appears to be well researched, but I was left with nagging doubts over some conclusions and statements that -I believe -should have been examined more thoroughly or with a more critical analysis regarding Napoleon.
   
   David Markham clearly has a passion and love of things Napoleon. I'd most certainly recommend this book as a very good read and is very well written.



3. First let me concede some of the compliments other readers have paid this book. It is easy to read, concise, and thoroughly researched. Three stars: C level work. It is not, however, very strong history. That is not to say that I picked out anything that was incorrect or even misleading, but instead it seems that Markham's obvious infatuation with Napoleon leads him to be unable to ask hard questions about his hero. More demanding readers, much less those who are critical of Napoleon's legacy, will walk away from this book unsatisfied. This is a book written by a "Napoleonic Society of America" member for others of that same group.
   
   Napoleon was of course subject to horrible and fictitious slander. His position and long sustained success bred bitter enemies, and we shouldn't fall into the trap of believing their deionizations. Still, Markham comes dangerously close to going to the opposite extreme. He uniformly portrays Napoleon as peace loving and well intentioned. Criticisms of Napoleon are raised in as little as a sentence and dismissed just as quickly. The book never asks hard questions.
   
   Take, for example, Markham's explanation of why peace never managed to break out during Napoleon's time. It was always England that "wanted war." Wanting war! After WWI the terms of peace laid blame for the war at Germany's doorstep. These days we are more likely to say the great tragedy of that same war is that it seems none of Europe's leaders truly wanted it. Or how about the Cuban missile crisis? Over 13 days the world's greatest powers almost destroyed themselves. Which side wanted war? The US? The Soviets? Reducing wars of this magnitude to simple desire on the part of one side or the other is facile. There are deep personal, political, and strategic issues at work that must be understood.
   
   Markham makes little effort to contribute to that understanding. Instead he simply says that the English could not tolerate French possession of Antwerp. Very well, then if Napoleon is as committed to peace as Markham would have us believe, why did he not surrender the city or come to some other accord? Markham simply states that the French would not tolerate that. Little more is offered. "Why" plays a small part in the analysis. Still, it seems that Napoleon's ultimate downfall in great part hinged on this decision from both sides of the channel. Delving into this issue and others, at least for a page or two, would have been worth while.
   
   That lack of analysis makes Markham more of a reporter of old news than a historian. Moreover, his presentation of the facts becomes suspect because he is so clearly enamored with his subject.
   Read this book if want to feel good about Napoleon, but go elsewhere if you want to probe below the surface.



4. 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"



5. 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!

No comments about Lee Teng-Hui and Taiwan's Quest for Identity.

1 comments about George Washington Reconsidered.

1. This is a must have for the Washington afficianado. What I like about it is thatthere's good stuff one does not usually find in standard bio's of GW.

No comments about Winston Churchill : The Greatest Briton.

No comments about Thomas Jefferson, Forerunner to the Restoration: A Comparison of the Views of Thomas Jefferson and Joseph Smith on Religion, Politics and Education.

No comments about The Lincoln Assassination: The Evidence.

3 comments about The Presidents' Doctor : An Insider's View of Three First Families.

1. Once I started reading The Presidents' Doctor, I found it difficult to put the book down. What especially intrigued me were the insights into the personal sides of Presidents Harding, Coolidge and Hoover as seen by Dr. Joel Boone, who served as a White House physician during their administrations. Despite their prominence, the three Presidents had individual and family joys, sorrows and challenges just as everyone else.

   As I read Mr. Heller's descriptions, I pictured myself in the shoes of Dr. Boone and his family. Imagine meeting, providing medical care to and socializing with key national (and in some cases international) leaders and then at the end of the day returning to "regular" home life and routines.

   The book captures the spirit of the times it covers. As an example, the reader can easily imagine the scene of President Harding and his entourage on their meandering, transcontinental train trip followed by an ocean voyage to Alaska and then a last train trip down the Pacific Coast to San Francisco where Harding met his untimely death. Indeed, in our current era of ever-faster communication, it is hard to conceive of a President running the nation without the benefit of airplanes, televisions, computers, fax machines, cell phones, etc. Yet, despite the lack of these conveniences, the leaders of the time somehow were able to manage the country.

   In summary, I highly recommend The Presidents' Doctor for an absorbing and personalized account of three Presidential administrations and life in the U.S. in the early part of the 20th century through the perspective of the extremely dedicated and talented White House physician, Dr. Joel Boone.




2. If this book were a novel it would be a great read.. It is lively, has fascinating characters, and colorful background.

   As a novel, however, it would have one fatal problem. As my English professor used to say, it would lack "an aura of verisimilitude". To put it in plain English, "You wouldn't believe it!".

   However, it's not a novel. It is a well researched and thoroughly documented LIVE history book. It describes an absolutely incredible man, who performed absolutely incredible feats in his admirable life.

   A few examples:

   Joel Boone was a medical doctor. He was awarded a congressional medal of honor, the nation's highest award for bravery, while he was serving as a doctor! There are few enough medal of honor winners, but did you ever hear of a doctor - a non-combatant - winning one? Now you have.

   In his early days he led and commanded troops in combat, even though his commission was as a medical officer.

   He served several U.S. presidents and their families as their doctor.

   Any one of these by itself is interesting and unusual. Taken all together they are unheard of - until now.

   The book has a tremendous advantage over a novel. Since it reports on a real person, who really did these astonishing things, you have to believe they really happened. Poetic license would never get you this far. This is a book you don't want to miss.




3. Milton F. Heller,Jr. tells the story of his father-in-law with grace and lucidity. Admiral Boone came out of Pennsylania, along with his wife, to carve a nitch in history. His career spanned 50 years, a youthful Medal of Honor, serving as doctor to three first families, to director of Vetrans Administration. This slim volume is just what the doctor ordered for all americans who love their heroes. Great Christmas gift.

1 comments about Analyzing Leaders, Presidents and Terrorists.

1. This is an unique approach to a biographical study of the leaders as presented in this well researched book. To analyze these men (and woman) is to explain what caused them to be great leaders or tyrants. There is a great deal of previously unknown information which is very revealing to enable the reader to better understand their actions. We can only wait for the sequel which would surely include Clinton and George W. Bush.

No comments about The Papers of Andrew Jackson: 1825-1828 (Papers of Andrew Jackson).