Napoleon: A Symbol for an Age: A Brief History with Documents

by Rafe Blaufarb

By calming revolutionary turbulence while preserving fundamental gains of 1789, Napoleon Bonaparte laid the foundations of modern France. But his impact reached beyond France’s borders as well. His legacy of war, civil rights, exploitation, and national awakening reshaped identities across the European continent, while in the Atlantic world he destroyed the colonial order and helped plant the seeds of American power. In this collection of wide-ranging primary sources ― including confidential memoranda and correspondence, speeches, memoirs, letters, police reports, and songs, most of which appear in English translation for the first time ― Rafe Blaufarb situates Napoleon within his time while opening a broad perspective on the nature and impact of Napoleonic rule. His introduction provides a narrative of Napoleon’s rise and fall and frames the key issues of Napoleon’s life and times. Useful pedagogical tools include maps, illustrations, a chronology, questions for consideration, and a selected bibliography.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

256 pages, Paperback

First published September 6, 2007

Reviews

[Rob Markley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Seems to be some sort of undergrad intro text booklet filled with course resource material. Smacks of cynical approach to getting money out of students rather than giving this as part of their course fees. All the same as a book it has worth

[Bud Simpson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great little read. Took Blaufarb's Napoleonic Europe course at Florida State. Highly recommended.