Napoleon's Letters

by J.M. Thompson

Three hundred letters, edited and translated by a leading Napoleonic scholar, offer a direct insight into the mind of one of the greatest soldiers and most interesting figures in history. During his lifetime, Napoleon wrote 60,000 letters, 41,000 of which still survive. This collection, first published in the 1930s and out of print for decades, includes 300 letters edited and translated by eminent Oxford scholar J.M. Thompson. The letters span Napoleon's entire career, from 15-year-old artillery trainee to Emperor in exile. They range from the most precise military instruction, to teasing correspondence with the Empress Josephine, to far-sighted discussions of the principles of government and the education of women. In these letters, Napoleon is revealed in all his guises: wise, clear-sighted, abusive, bullying, charming, eloquent, and heroic.

Genres: History

331 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 1998

About the author

James Matthew Thompson was a historian and theologian.