Napoleon: A Life
The definitive biography of the great soldier-statesman by the acclaimed author of Churchill and The Last King of America – winner of the LA Times Book prize, finalist for the Plutarch prize, winner of the Fondation Napoleon prize and a New York Times bestseller
A captivating account of military brilliance and political acumen Roberts proves himself an exceptionally talented author” – The Washington Post
From Austerlitz and Borodino to Waterloo, Napoleon Bonaparte’s battles rank among the most legendary in history. Yet, he was much more than a tactical genius and a shrewd leader of men. Comparable to George Washington and Julius Caesar – his revered hero – Napoleon stands as one of the greatest soldier-statesmen the world has ever known.
Andrew Roberts’s Napoleon is the first comprehensive single-volume biography to incorporate the groundbreaking release of Napoleon’s thirty-three thousand letters, fundamentally reshaping our perception of his personality and motivations. For the first time, we see him in full complexity: adaptable, resolute, unexpectedly forgiving toward foes and even his wayward wife Josephine. Like Churchill, Napoleon recognized the strategic value of controlling his narrative, and his memoirs – composed during his exile on St. Helena – became the most widely read book of the nineteenth century.
An acclaimed historian, Roberts journeyed to fifty-three of Napoleon’s sixty battlefields, uncovered vital new documents in archives, and even undertook a sea voyage to St. Helena. His grasp of political intricacies matches his expertise in military history. This biography finally does justice to its subject – authoritative, perceptive, eloquently crafted – by one of the most distinguished historians of our time.
Information about the Audiobook:
| Publisher | Andrew Roberts |
| Publish Date | November 04, 2014 |
| Pages | 976 / 32 hrs and 56 mins |
| Language | English |
| Type | Unabridged Audiobook |
| EAN/UPC | 9780698176287 |
Napoleon: A Life. By Andrew Roberts. Audiobook Available — Buy Now!

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SKU book: 9780698176287 📖 ASIN Number Amazon: B00OSF1O44
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Praise for Napoleon
“An epically scaled new biography… Roberts brilliantly conveys the sheer energy and presence of Napoleon the organizational and military whirlwind who, through crisp and incessant questioning, sized up people and problems and got things done… His dynamism shines in Roberts’s set-piece chapters on major battles like Austerlitz, Jena, and Marengo, turning visionary military maneuvers into politically potent moments.”
– The New York Times Book Review“Roberts is a masterly storyteller… I would recommend his book to anyone seeking an accessible chronicle, rich in anecdote, of Napoleon’s fantastic story.”
– Max Hastings, The Wall Street Journal“With his customary flair and keen historical eye, Andrew Roberts has delivered the goods again. This is the best single one-volume biography of Napoleon in English for the last four decades. A tour de force that belongs on every history lovers bookshelf!”
– Jay Winik, bestselling author of The Great Upheaval and April 1865“Entertaining, even addictive… Roberts writes with great vigor, style, and fluency.”
– Sunday Times (London)“Magnificent… Roberts’s fine book encompasses all the evidence to give a brilliant portrait of the man. The book, as it needs to be, is massive, yet the pace is brisk and it’s never overwhelmed by the scholarly research, which was plainly immense.”
– Mail on Sunday“Truly a Napoleonic triumph of a book, elegantly written, epic in scale, novelistic in detail, irresistibly galloping with the momentum of a cavalry charge, as comfortable on the battlefield as in the bedroom. Here, at last, is the full biography.”
– Simon Sebag Montefiore, Evening Standard, Books of the Year“Roberts not only brings the Napoleon story up to date but, with new evidence from the archives and an original spin on the present, makes a compelling case for why we should all read anew about the little Corsican in the 21st century.”
– The Observer (London)“Magisterial and beautifully written… A richly detailed and sure-footed reappraisal of the man, his achievements – and failures – and the extraordinary times in which he lived.”
– Standpoint“A definitive account that dispels many of the myths that surrounded Napoleon from his lifetime to the present day.”
– Publishers Weekly“A compelling biography of the preeminent French general that stands apart from the rest, owing to the author’s thoroughness, accuracy, and attention to detail. Roberts relies on his military expertise, Napoleon’s surviving correspondence (33,000 items in all), and exhaustive on-site studies of French battlegrounds… This voluminous work is likely to set the standard for subsequent accounts.”
– Library Journal (starred review)









Emma Smith –
Napoleon Bonaparte is one of the most renowned military generals and statesmen of all time. Born in relative obscurity in Corsica, he quickly rose through the ranks of the French military during the French Revolutionary Wars.
He would eventually become emperor in a coup d’état and control much of Europe. He was an “enlightened despot,” spreading the ideals of the revolution and implementing the Napoleonic Code. However, his hubris got the better of him. The Seventh Coalition finally defeated Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. Napoleon was exiled to St Helena in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. He died there soon after.
Ink book –
This biography of Napoleon Bonaparte offers a mesmerizing blend of military strategy and political insight. Andrew Roberts masterfully reveals the emperor’s complex personality through an extensive collection of his letters, portraying him as a resolute, adaptable leader with surprising compassion. A must-read for history enthusiasts seeking a fresh perspective.
book.lover –
The story was captivating from start to finish. Perfect for listening during a long drive.
Review –
I absolutely loved Napoleon: A Life by Andrew Roberts! 📖✨ The story of Napoleon’s rise and fall is so fascinating and inspiring. The narration brought history to life, and I felt connected to every moment. Highly recommend for history lovers! 🇫🇷🌟
Book Review –
Listening to Napoleon: A Life by Andrew Roberts was truly captivating. The narration brought history to life, making me feel like I was right there with Napoleon during his most pivotal moments. The detailed storytelling and insights provided a new perspective on his complex personality. Highly recommended for history enthusiasts! 📖
AudioBooks Shop –
I found this book to be very interesting and well-paced. It kept me entertained throughout. I really enjoyed this audiobook, and I highly recommend it!
Anna –
What a terrific journey! Napoleon was always a mysterious figure in history to me. There were so many contradictions to what he was that I did not really know who he was. Tyrant and a social reformer. Was he like Hitler? Was he like Washington? Turns out, neither. He was Napoleon, a crazy mix of enlightened liberal sense and unstoppable ambition. The author interspersed humor and quick characterizations throughout his book that kept it entertaining and at times laugh out loud funny. The narrator was outstanding. He understood the writing style of the author and capitalized upon it with his inflections and dead pan drops of humor throughout the book. Having read a great deal of historical biographies, I was particularly impressed with the care Mr. Roberts took in describing the modern state of many of the referenced historical sites in the book. As someone who loves to experience history through travel, it is great to know in exactly which sites look as they did back in their time of historical significance and those that do not. Those that can be visited and those that can’t be. I feel
these details are gifts to the reader.
Jefferson –
If you’re looking just for a military history of Napoleon’s campaigns, you might be disappointed. Roberts does a fine job recounting campaigns and battles, but there’s little new military history here. The audio book is not a great vehicle for battle narratives since one needs a map to make any sense of troop distribution and movements. Though all of Napoleon’s battles are covered, they take up relatively little of this book. Roberts is at his best when covering Napoleon’s political and diplomatic schemes as well as the anecdotal accounts of his relations with his men. lovers and marshals. Robert’s appraisal of Napoleon is balanced pointing out his military innovations, but admitting that Napoleon enjoyed more than his share of good luck. Napoleon often exhibited genius on the battlefield, but Roberts shows us that he was perhaps more a master of political spin. There are many controversies surrounding Napoleon, perhaps the greatest being whether his death was the result of natural means or poison. Roberts offers compelling reasons to believe the former. I sometimes find John Lee’s narration to be plodding, but in this recording, he is flawless.