Napoleon: The Man Behind The Myth - Adam Zamoyski

I have read several biographies of Napoleon Bonaparte, but this offering by Adam Zamoyski was one I simply had to check out, having enjoyed one or two of the author's other books.

Napoleon: The Man Behind The Myth takes an emotionally detached view of the great man, and is outwardly quite "dry" when compared to such biographies as Andrew Roberts' Napoleon The Great. There is little of the hero worship or hyperbole which sometimes pervade chronicles of Napoleon's life.

The point which Zamoyski appears to be making is that Napoleon was very much a man of his time, who did have some outstanding qualities, but was not a superhuman. I detected a certain scepticism about some features of the French Revolution and its aftermath, particularly concerning how certain principles of the Enlightenment were implemented practically.  Having said all this, I would emphasise that this is a balanced and convincing account, and the author points out many instances where Napoleon was in the right or vindicated by the course of events.

One of the central themes in this book is the notion of Bonaparte "saving" the Revolution, and the tension between revolutionary ideals and the measures which Napoleon deemed necessary to stabilise France after he assumed power.

As hinted at before, the book is written in quite a sober, measured style.  However, what it possibly lacks in "fireworks", it more than makes up for in depth, and genuine insight into political realities and the merits of events and initiatives.  The book can seem to start slowly, but if the reader persists he or she will be richly rewarded.

The biography is strong on strategic matters, but it does not dwell on military intricacies. One will find that certain major campaigns or episodes are not covered in the minute detail which might be expected.  Even in "condensed" form, however, the chronicling of events in Russia in 1812 is still harrowing.

A feature which recurs is the "obsession", especially after 1804, with harnessing monarchical trappings. As someone who has grown very inimical to such things, I found myself very receptive to the author's observations. A lot of care is taken to illustrate Napoleon's exercising of power and how he interacted with those around him, including his often wayward relatives.  Another key aspect of the interpretation is how the subjects of "honour" and "saving face" loomed so large, and how Napoleon became trapped by some notion of being guided by destiny and his "star".

So to conclude this is a highly authoritative and balanced assessment of Napoleon's life and career, which is underpinned by the author's sure grasp of the big picture.

1812 - Napoleon's Fatal March On Moscow - Adam Zamoyski

A while ago, I read Adam Zamoyski's superb study of the Vienna Peace Conference, "Rites Of Peace", and this encouraged me to seek out another work of his concerning the Napoleonic period, "1812 - Napoleon's Fatal March On Moscow".

 

 

 

Zamoyski starts by setting the scene, particularly the respective paths to 1812 followed by Napoleon and Tsar Alexander I, following the peace of Tilsit. Disaffection with Napoleon was growing among his "allies", much goodwill having been forfeited by heavy-handedness and a misunderstanding of the feelings of others. The pretensions of Alexander are illustrated, in so many ways a man of his time, espousing progressive sentiments, but hamstrung by the perilous nature of his own position, and the constant need to take heed of opinions at home.

 

The author also provides a handy guide to how the Continental System began to unravel, and also makes clear how important the whole Polish question was in the equation, something which is often overlooked. Also included in these preliminary chapters is an analysis of the Grande Armee, its strengths and shortcomings, how it had been diluted by attrition and campaigning, and also afflicted by corruption and decadence. 

 

The logistics of the invasion, when set out in their constituent parts, are staggering to contemplate in their intricacy and scale, when we consider that this was a pre-mechanization, pre-motorisation era. It would also seem that the stories about Napoleon's personal involvement in minute details are not exaggerated. It is also sobering to think that these daunting logistics to a large degree envisaged a short war.....

 

The great thing about books like this is that they tell the real story, without resorting to the generalisations and clichés prevalent in other media formats.  Here, for example, we learn that the much-vaunted Russian strategy was conditioned by a multiplicity of factors, and that it was not as calculating and pre-ordained as is sometimes made out, but evolved due to the pressure of events.

 

The elements of this book which I found most enlightening were those which addressed the infighting and tensions within Russian society and its "establishment", and how they affected the course of the campaign. Of the generals, Barclay de Tolly appeared to be largely vindicated in his approach, despite the vitriol aimed at him by many. Even after being "sacrificed", he continued to make astute observations.

 

The portrayal of Kutuzov here is also intriguing. For all his "inspirational" and galvanizing qualities, and his symbolic value, he seems to have been an equivocal influence on matters. The course of the conflict appeared to unfold despite rather than because of his conscious decisions. Indeed, some of the most favourable developments, from a Russian standpoint, occurred because they suppressed the urge to do what their instincts told them to.

 

Also, we get a look at the truth behind the level of patriotic and peasant engagement in the struggle, and the ambiguity which existed in the relationship of the masses with their leader. Even well into the long French retreat, opinion at all levels of Russian society was very volatile, and could have come down in opposition to Tsar Alexander.

 

What emerged to me was the fragility of the French enterprise, with a lack of central purpose and clear objectives, betrayed by Napoleon's stress on diplomacy and symbolic shows of power and unity.

It is probably simplistic to say that the Emperor's powers were on the wane, and some of his misfortunes he brought on himself by his flawed behaviour in the aftermath of Tilsit. The fall-out from this was reflected in the agonizing which afflicted him once on Russian soil. Political anxieties assailed him, and ironically the erratic and contradictory signals emanating from St. Petersburg may have harmed France more than they did the Russians, by thoroughly confusing and misleading Napoleon.

 

It is notable that most of the soldiers in his army still retained implicit faith in Napoleon, even during the most terrible travails. This was most likely due to a combination of blind faith, Bonaparte's remarkable track-record and his hypnotic allure. He was still capable of rising to the heights on occasion, as with the crossing of bridges on the return journey from Moscow, and his political antennae still functioned, if more fitfully than before. Another facet of the tale which stood out for me was how some of Napoleon's generals, Ney for example, retained their professionalism and focus amidst the chaos and misery.

The full horror and relentlessness of the Battle of Borodino is amply conveyed too. Reading those passages, one can fully appreciate why historians regard it as one of the most intensely brutal and horrific days of fighting ever seen. The full desperate ebb and flow of the battle comes across, as does the heart-chilling aftermath.

 

Needless to say, a sizeable portion of this book concentrates on the horrors and hardships suffered by both soldiers and civilians. Indeed, conditions during the initial invasion in the summer of 1812 sound terrible enough, as is testified by the figures of attrition. The retreat from Moscow is captured in all its shades, with stories of brutality and compassion, desperation and resilience, endurance and resignation. We are also shown how various "subcultures" developed, to cope with the cold, the lack of food and shelter, and the over-riding need to survive.

To conclude the book, the author summarizes the events which followed the French retreat from Russia, as the events and policies of 1807 onwards bore bitter fruit for Napoleon. There is a note of pessimism, with persuasive arguments about the more conservative path which European politics took after 1815, perhaps in reaction to the rise of nationalism and the newly aroused aspirations of the "lower orders".

This is an engrossing, diligently researched and beautifully written account of this momentous episode. One thing which occurred me increasingly as I worked my way through it was how little Europe in particular learned from the cruelties, callousness and sheer futility of what happened, as was made clear just over a century later.

Rites of Peace - Adam Zamoyski

During the past two years, I have read and watched quite a bit about the Napoleonic Wars, but comparatively little of this research had centred on diplomatic and geo-political matters, particularly those which became pressing in the years 1813-1815.  This has been remedied by my reading Adam Zamoyski's admirable book, Rites Of Peace.

The early stages focus on the completion of Napoleon's retreat from Russia, and the efforts of the other powers to position themselves to capitalise on the fall-out from his imminent downfall.  The scene is set, and developments placed in their overall context.

Attention is paid to the differing agendas at work, from Tsar Alexander's sense of destiny and mission, to the tension between Austria and Prussia, and the suspicion aimed at Britain, which was viewed as ignorant of the niceties of European diplomacy.

Zamoyski also introduces us to some of the principal diplomatic players, with colourful anecdotes about their characters and backgrounds.  He also begins to unravel and explain the bewildering intricacies of the age, and how interwoven the various countries were by treaty, alliance, marriage, religion and history.

The bargaining and horse-trading could be confusing for even dedicated historians, but Zamoyski does a commendable job of condensing and streamlining the developments,  whilst still seeming to be thorough.

Also in the early chapters, we find out about the desperate attempts by Napoleon to shore up his alliances, and the equally devious and creative methods employed by the "allies" to persuade rulers or armies to defect or declare neutrality.  As these matters progress, there is a palpable withering of morale and enthusiasm in the French camp, belief ebbing away....

We also see how the divisions and discord in the Allied camp intensified as the armies approached the borders of France itself, Russia and Prussia advocating pressing forward, Austria more circumspect.  Britain seemed handicapped by the fragmentation of its diplomatic team "on the spot", but also concerned at being marginalised and deprived of some of the spoils.  France still entertained hopes of profiting from any discord amongst his foes, to secure more honourable terms.

Throughout the book, we are constantly given quotes from the diaries, letters and papers of some of the protagonists. These help to supply an insight into the state of mind and motivations of these people. This is particularly true in the case of  Metternich, the Austrian Foreign Minister.

Some gaps in my knowledge were certainly filled, mainly on the Allied approach to Paris, and the negotiations which followed.  The covert discussions conducted by Alexander are covered in depth, in particular the feeling that he was too magnanimous in his approach. The reasoning behind the return of the French monarchy would certainly strike modern eyes as quaint and curious.

One thing which struck me about Rites of Peace is how some major events themselves were given scant coverage.  This is no bad thing, as the pivotal battles and ceremonies are covered painstakingly in numerous other books.  Zamoyski prefers to concentrate on the work of the diplomats and sovereigns themselves, and their personalities and quirks.

Moving on to the Congress of Vienna itself, the scene is well set, the difficulties and challenges highlighted.  A constant theme is the precarious nature of the Coalition, its cracks and fissures, and its perpetual state of near-collapse. The ongoing attempts of the diplomats to keep the show on the road are beautifully detailed by Zamoyski.

The social scene in Vienna is colourfully depicted, and the romantic dalliances and lavish occasions do help to break up the paragraphs on political discourse.  However, I must admit that I found myself scanning through these passages after a while.  Once you've read about one extravagant occasion, you've read about them all!

Much of the emphasis in the chapters covering Vienna is on the erosion of trust and solidarity between the allies. Napoleon had been defeated and ousted, and having achieved this, the powers permitted old animosities and tensions to resurface.  The vexed questions of Saxony and Poland almost led to war, and Zamoyski leads us adroitly through the discussions which led to some kind of settlement. He also details the lingering resentment harboured by many smaller countries and territories, who felt left out and patronised by the big powers.

Of course, as matters were being tied up in Vienna, Napoleon was re-entering the drama, and reading the paragraphs on this, there is a sense of initial panic and dismay, followed by grim resolve to confront the situation.

In keeping with the approach of the book, Zamoyski does not dwell overly on the military technicalities of Waterloo, but devotes his attention to its repercussions, the unpredictability of the Tsar becoming an ever greater concern. 

After documenting the resolution, or not as the case may have been, of the outstanding territorial issues, the author examines the legacy of the Congress of Vienna, and the period generally.  Many of the purported ideals and objectives of the Powers were either forgotten or simply not implemented. Much of Europe reverted to the clammy grip of absolutism and repression.  Reactionary forces sought re-entrenchment.

Looking at what occurred in Europe after Waterloo, one could be forgiven for wondering whether some had put on a facade of enlightenment in order to secure some moral high ground during protracted discussions. The gains achieved were not always used to advance freedom or justice, but rather to buttress the power of those who wished ultimately to curtail and limit those things.

The last chapter is somewhat downbeat, almost seeming to question which causes were actually advanced or served by the battles won and the treaties signed. Many of the people and ideas defeated by the Coalition soon seemed more wholesome and edifying than those of the victors, and the flaws in the settlements, and the arrogance displayed by the major Powers, may have simply served to fan the flames of agitation and nationalism in parts of Europe.

I would have perhaps liked to have seen more dissection of the struggle between liberal and conservative ideas at the time, but appreciate that this falls largely outside the remit of the book.

Overall, though, Rites of Peace is a very worthy, readable and informative piece of work.  It certainly gave this reader ample food for thought....