Customer Rating:  
Summary: I liked this
Comment: I can't claim to have any extensive knowledge of the period. I've read Longford's books on Wellington and Cronin's biography of the "Napster" and thoroughly enjoyed this one. Can't vouch for historical accuracy, can't agree/disagree with the psychological insights offerred, but willing to take it all at face value and recommend it as a very readable biography. I'll try Englund and Dwyer (when it's in paperback) soon and see how they all measure up
Customer Rating:
Summary: Napoleon
Comment: As a reader with virtually no knowlege of Napoleon beyond school I picked this up as a read for the summer I spent in France. I didn't know what to expect and I was really happy with the book. Although McLynn is fair in his portral of Napoleon as a human being it's hard not to feel sorry for Napoleon at the end.
The section on the French revolution is a little busy with dates and names of committees, some background knowledge might be useful here. Otherwise it's a great read and really brought Napoleon to life, and humanised him in my opinion.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Extremely Interesting Read
Comment: Fabulous discussion on Napoleon, his rise and fall. For those completely unaware of this history the text is informative and easily read due to the style of the writing and the format of the discussion. The book introduces Napoleon as a child, it explains his motivation and how these carried over, and it introduces us to his meteoric rise through the military ranks. The book is both critical and complementary and is therefore not noticeably biased. Furthermore, given that the book describes but does not dwell on the military tactics or strategies employed in each of his battles, the book is interesting for those more interested in the man than the warfare.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Thorough, insightful, but ultimately not satisfying
Comment: Mclynn's extensive biography is evidence of the detailed research and analysis of both contemporary and modern day literature on Napoleon's life.I have three main criticisms: 1. His conclusions on some of the great men who surrounded Napoleon - Ney, Tallyrand and Bernadotte to name three - are forthright and damning. There's no doubt in Mclynn's mind that they were either incompetent, treacherous or both, and no evidence is presented to support them. I was left feeling slightly sorry for these characters! 2. The great battles of Austerlitz and Jena have no diagrams to show the dispositions, and those for Borodino and Waterloo are confusing. The text mentions place names that aren't on the maps, and the maps have features and generals that are ommited from the text. As key moments in Napoleon's career, I would have appreciated a better understanding, using graphics, of the strategies and tactics employed. 3. The Sources section does not show evidence of primary research at the battlefields or cities, although maybe the author assumes this need not be mentioned. Consequently, the descriptions are a little lacking in colour, and too dependant on reviewing the reports of others, without the spark that first hand obervation can give. I certainly learnt things about Napoleon that I wouldn't have learnt elsewhere, but it's left me slightly annoyed that, in order to get a more complete and less opinioned picture, I have had to check out some of McLynn's assertions myself.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Napoleon , A Biography by Frank McLynn
Comment: I have just finished reading this book, I found it a good read. Most of my background has come having to study the French revolution for A level history in the 1970's.The story flows well and gives a good insight into the person, I do not think it went into too much "Jungian psychobabble". What comes over as a person who dragged himself by his own efforts, allbeit with help from some influential friends / protectors. Obviously he was stuck with his family, what a bunch of ingrates they were! Most of his marshals do not come out of it very well. I felt the author was too dismissive of Wellington, logistics do play a vital role in warfare. The tactics may be wonderful, but without good logistics, the best laid plans come to nought.Napoleon got out of his depth in Russia with poor back up. Britain's conduct as Napoleon's jailer left me with the feeling of how petty they were. The book probably falls short of Napoleonic specialists' expectations, but it gives a good insight into the man. Nevertheless, recommended reading as a primer on the subject.
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