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11th out of 77 books
—
22 voters
Napoleon's Privates: 2,500 Years of History Unzipped
by
Tony Perrottet (Goodreads Author)
When Tony Perrottet heard that Napoleon's "baguette" had been stolen by his disgruntled doctor a few days after the Emperor's death, he rushed out to New Jersey. Why? Because that's where an eccentric American collector who had purchased Napoleon's member at a Parisian auction now kept the actual relic in an old suitcase under his bed.
The story of Napoleon's privates trigg...more
The story of Napoleon's privates trigg...more
Hardcover, 256 pages
Published
July 1st 2008
by It Books
(first published January 1st 2008)
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This book is excellent!
It's the equivalent of the sex, drugs, and rock-n-roll of history (especially the sex)! Students would enjoy studying history a whole lot more if this book were on the list of required reading.
All the better, the book is thoroughly researched, with sources listed for further reading.
I like that the book is divided into short chapters, making it easy to read just a little at a time. Also, the sources are given at the end of each chapter, so anyone wanting to study the topic...more
It's the equivalent of the sex, drugs, and rock-n-roll of history (especially the sex)! Students would enjoy studying history a whole lot more if this book were on the list of required reading.
All the better, the book is thoroughly researched, with sources listed for further reading.
I like that the book is divided into short chapters, making it easy to read just a little at a time. Also, the sources are given at the end of each chapter, so anyone wanting to study the topic...more
You should not read this book. It's an exploration of "sex, greed, wealth, and weird behavior through the ages," and it will probably shock and appall you unless you are far more worldly than I am which you probably are (I AM kind of a prude), but if you do read this and find it repulsive, don't blame me because, seriously, I just told you not to read it.
Having said that, I found this book fascinating. It turns out that a lot of historical figures were kind of...kinky. Weird. Eccentric. Gassy....more
Having said that, I found this book fascinating. It turns out that a lot of historical figures were kind of...kinky. Weird. Eccentric. Gassy....more
1 like · like · see review
A very enjoyable read whether straight through or as a pickup during odd times. The short sections made the latter easy. It's quite a collection of sexual trivia over 2500 years & it piqued my curiosity about a lot of other history. It provided a lot of continuity to other historical books I've read & was very well documented.
It is very interesting how our sexual mores have changed & it gave great insight, without being the least offensive. For instance, there were several sections...more
It is very interesting how our sexual mores have changed & it gave great insight, without being the least offensive. For instance, there were several sections...more
This book contains over sixty chapters devoted to historical sort of "urban legend" tales involving scandals, sex, body parts or other juicy tidbits that would get most people's attention if you heard it being discussed. Much of it is about famous people, but we also get topics devoted to ideas surrounding sex, such as how it was believed that masturbation caused a long list of physical ailments.
Some of the stories involve Napoleon, Cleopatra, Casanova, popes, Hitler, JFK and other earlier presi...more
Some of the stories involve Napoleon, Cleopatra, Casanova, popes, Hitler, JFK and other earlier presi...more
"Napoleaon's Privates" is not a story about the lowest ranking soldiers in Napoleon's Army. Having said that, I don't think I have to go into further detail about the contents of this book.
Tony Perrottet has put together a book of short stories that look into some of the exotic sagas from history. This is not a book that was just put together to tell these stories, but Perrottet has done the research to either prove them to be wrong, correct, or cannot be proven one way or the other.
The book is...more
Tony Perrottet has put together a book of short stories that look into some of the exotic sagas from history. This is not a book that was just put together to tell these stories, but Perrottet has done the research to either prove them to be wrong, correct, or cannot be proven one way or the other.
The book is...more
Although published several years ago, this spicy little book is well worth reading today. The short chapters certainly allow for quick study and the salacious topics spike some piquant entertainment. But if swallowed in one sitting, the reader might become over-stimulated if not bored.
“Napoleon’s Privates” does not refer to the Little Corporal’s soldiers nor does it deal extensively with the French Emperor’s penal captivity. Rather, the material unveils Bonaparte’s penile embarrassments, amorous...more
“Napoleon’s Privates” does not refer to the Little Corporal’s soldiers nor does it deal extensively with the French Emperor’s penal captivity. Rather, the material unveils Bonaparte’s penile embarrassments, amorous...more
No subject is too sacred to inspire laughter, and this book clearly holds NOTHING sacred. I started out with a small smile, then a little soft snicker. Then I began giggling. In the course of this very short volume I was laughing uncontrollably. This book is unrepentantly vulgar, and indescribably funny. If you do not appreciate a certain coarseness about the human condition, don't read this one. But if you recognize the inherent humor in our flesh, our sex habits and our ability to rationalize...more
This is a thoroughly enjoyable ramble through historical bits and bobs. It is in no way comprehensive- it's a collection of essays, some of which cover the same material, about historical events/personages that the author finds amusing or unusual, many of which involve sex and/or Napoleon. Here you will find rumors substantiated, myths debunked, allegations of heterosexuality (shocking!), and a helpful chart to help you determine the most perverse of the Roman emperors. The first-person introduc...more
How do I put this? This is a collection of historical anecdotes that you would never, ever find in a high school textbook. Because this is the seven deadly sins version of history. Not for children, but adults will find this exceedingly entertaining. (Well, I suppose many children would too, but let's not go there.) It deals with some of the juiciest stories in world history, both true and false, plus a lot of good stuff you've never heard of before. And no, it's not all sex; there's stuff about...more
This book wasn't worth the money I spent on it. I was hoping for something along the lines of a Mary Roach book of popular historical and scientific journalism. Her book "Bonk" for example is an intelligent, witty, well-researched account of the confluence of science and sex down through history. She even covers some of the same topics as Perrottet, only in greater depth and with more intelligent commentary. Some of Perrottet's chapters can barely be considered paragraphs, let alone chapters, an...more
I'm a sucker for a cheap book.
This isn't necessarily a bad book--it's just not necessarily a good one either. It's fun brain candy for history lovers.
The writing is lighthearted and fun (how serious can you be when discussing Napoleon's bits), and at the end of every section, the author gives where to read further--which makes it seem like he didn't create all of his information by wikipedia. I found one or two pretty obvious historical errors, but nothing so blatant that it made it less fun.
F...more
This isn't necessarily a bad book--it's just not necessarily a good one either. It's fun brain candy for history lovers.
The writing is lighthearted and fun (how serious can you be when discussing Napoleon's bits), and at the end of every section, the author gives where to read further--which makes it seem like he didn't create all of his information by wikipedia. I found one or two pretty obvious historical errors, but nothing so blatant that it made it less fun.
F...more
The book is very entertaining and quite funny. The dialogue used in the book plus the information that it possesses gives the one-two punch that it needs to produce a hilarious effect. I was practically laughing while reading because the way the author penned the articles was pretty damn funny especially the part about Hitler's testicles and the condoms of the middle ages. This book opened my eyes to the side of history that I did not even know. And it made me realize that people weren't that di...more
What can I say? I'm a trivial sort of person and books such as this one appeal to me on many levels. I love history, but I also love delving into the parts of history not covered in your standard classroom environment. And, c'mon, everyone loves a bit of dirty gossip, especially if it's about a famous or infamous personage. Napoleon's Privates fits the bill in all these categories. What allows this to stand out from your average titillation compilation, though, is that at the end of each vignett...more
Product Description
When Tony Perrottet heard that Napoleon's "baguette" had been stolen by his disgruntled doctor a few days after the Emperor's death, he rushed out to New Jersey. Why? Because that's where an eccentric American collector who had purchased Napoleon's member at a Parisian auction now kept the actual relic in an old suitcase under his bed. The story of Napoleon's privates triggered Perrottet's quest to research other such exotic sagas from history, to discover the actual evidence...more
When Tony Perrottet heard that Napoleon's "baguette" had been stolen by his disgruntled doctor a few days after the Emperor's death, he rushed out to New Jersey. Why? Because that's where an eccentric American collector who had purchased Napoleon's member at a Parisian auction now kept the actual relic in an old suitcase under his bed. The story of Napoleon's privates triggered Perrottet's quest to research other such exotic sagas from history, to discover the actual evidence...more
I found this book yesterday in the associates picks at a local bookstore. Napoleon's Privates: 2,500 Years of History Unzipped by Tony Perrottet. This is a fun little book. The chapters are very short vinettes of different "naughty" bits of history. Supposedly after Napoleon died his doctor removed his penis. (apparently taking dead celebrities penises is popular Rasputin and Dillinger had their's stolen too and Christ's foreskin was stolen in 1983). Perrottet heard Napoleon's Bone apart from hi...more
I have a history degree so I found this book to be fascinating. It was offered in my book club for $9.95, so I snapped it up. It has over 60 "chapters" that are about 3-4 pages long. It tells a quick bit of history that most people have either not thought about or never took the time to research like was Abraham Lincoln or J. Edgar Hoover gay? Or did Hitler have a drug problem that caused him to become insane? Or how about who in history has had STDs? Mr. Perrottet tells you what history has fou...more
Jul 24, 2008
Joshua
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Anyone interested in "curious" history
Shelves:
non-fiction
Ever wonder where Napoleon's castrated and dried up "member" resides? It's in a suitcase under a bed in New Jersey. Was J Edgar Hoover really a cross dresser? Nope, it was all a lie. Did you know that Hitler had a huge flatulence problem ever since birth and it stunk to high hell? I do now!!
There is knowledge that I've learned and wished I'd never learned and there's knowledge that I didn't know I needed and when learned can't believe I lived for so long without said knowledge. I now realize tha...more
There is knowledge that I've learned and wished I'd never learned and there's knowledge that I didn't know I needed and when learned can't believe I lived for so long without said knowledge. I now realize tha...more
Sort of a silly little book, really - basically a series of very short (1-3 pages) vignettes and anecdotes about sex, sexuality, gender, social norms, etc. in history--primarily before the 20th century. There's no logical organization; the chapters jump from one random thing to the next, which would make it perfect for amusing short-burst reading. The book is, exactly what Perrottet says it is--nothing more, nothing less. If some story does catch your attention, each of the short pieces does hav...more
Funny and entertaining, this book offers up research on all those indelicate tidbits of history: What happened to Lincoln's bloody shirt collar? Were the Romans really as debased as history says? What's the deal with Hitler's intestinal issues? And are all those jokes about Napoleon's, ahem, nether region, true? Filled with 2-3 page chapters, it's a perfect bathroom read (pun intended).
May 06, 2012
Kenneth Kwame Welsh
marked it as to-read
Catherine the Great: Did the Empress Really Die From Doing Her Horse? | Betty Dodson with Carlin Ros
dodsonandross.com
Catherine the Great was a woman of unbridled sexual passion, according to Tony Perrottet's hilarious little book on history's most tawdry sexual scandals, Napoleon's Privates. And one unsavory rumor has it that her sexual habits killed her.
Got this from a friend.
dodsonandross.com
Catherine the Great was a woman of unbridled sexual passion, according to Tony Perrottet's hilarious little book on history's most tawdry sexual scandals, Napoleon's Privates. And one unsavory rumor has it that her sexual habits killed her.
Got this from a friend.
I really liked this book. Its informative and to-the-point format is more successful, I think, than that tedious travelogue The Sinner's Grand Tour (it's ironic that he talks about Casanova's pompous boring travel book and yet also went and wrote a pompous boring travel book). After that one I almost swore off this author completely, but I'm glad that I decided to read Napoleon's Privates. I think I'm going to take most of these stories with a grain of salt and just enjoy the fact that they exis...more
this was an AMAZING book! I absolutely loved it, so much in fact that I read it all in a day and a half. The stories are all interesting, and it references/quotes a lot of really smart historians. If you like history, especially the weird little bits of history that they never teach in school, you NEED to read this. It's a riot.
This is one of the best historical books I have read. It's very amusing and easy to read and you can't put it down. All the facts in the book are funny and sometimes shocking. It shows you that things have not changed much in centuries. People always wanted to have fun and sometimes in the most unusual ways. :) Great book!!!
Very interesting - answers many of the questions that history books don't, from whether Napoleon really was short and whether Abraham Lincoln was gay to the founding of the restaurant business and the price of real estate in ancient Rome. Not Pulitzer material but definitely a fun read for any history buff.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
It was amusing, light-hearted, and extraordinarily down-to-earth enlightening. The chapters were fun to share with friends, and they all got a kick out of some of the facts.
It was nice to find out some of the misconceptions (just as Napoleon syndrome, he wasn't really that short for the time) and learn where they came from and what the truth really was.
It was also interesting to read about some of the more notorious women, who would have thought old nuns to be such...more
It was amusing, light-hearted, and extraordinarily down-to-earth enlightening. The chapters were fun to share with friends, and they all got a kick out of some of the facts.
It was nice to find out some of the misconceptions (just as Napoleon syndrome, he wasn't really that short for the time) and learn where they came from and what the truth really was.
It was also interesting to read about some of the more notorious women, who would have thought old nuns to be such...more
For someone who hates celebrity memorabilia, this certainly titillated! This book takes tidbits of (usually) risque history and--ahem--puts in in perspective. It discusses why castrati were considered better lovers, the ritual of droit de seigneur (ius prima noctae), Renaissance Italy brothels that also happened to be monasteries, the location of JFK's brain and Napoleon's penis (and other member-abilia), the story of how Vincent Van Gogh's ear-chopping syphilis, the secret cabinets like the Bri...more
I learned some random tidbits of history that you won't learn in high school/college. I definitely had a good time reading the light-hearted vignettes - great for something to do while commuting to work.
I really liked this book.
My favorite "chapters" were Did Mary Ever Say She Was A Virgin, and Vatican Hall Of Shame.
It's interesting to learn about history that nobody wants to talk about.
My favorite "chapters" were Did Mary Ever Say She Was A Virgin, and Vatican Hall Of Shame.
It's interesting to learn about history that nobody wants to talk about.
My college history prof, Keith Sprunger, loved to spice up his lectures with the spicey details assembled in this book. But it just a book of sexy garnishes to history, not a real history book.
I have read many books with random facts like this that were way more fun and a little less creepy. I didn't realize I would learn quite so much about Napoleon and his privates...wow.
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2 trivia questions
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“Whenever someone implies that history is boring, I bring up Napoleon's penis.”
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1 person liked it
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Jul 19, 2012 11:30pm