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The Age of Napoleon

A History of European Civilization from 1789 to 1815: The Story of Civilization, Book 11

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The Age of Napoleon

By: Will Durant, Ariel Durant
Narrated by: Stefan Rudnicki
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An engrossing volume on European civilization by Pulitzer Prize-winning historians Will and Ariel Durant.

The Age of Napoleon, the 11th and final volume of the Story of Civilization, surveys the amazing chain of events that wrenched Europe out of the Enlightenment and into the age of democracy. In this masterful work, listeners will encounter the French Revolution from the storming of the Bastille to the guillotining of the king; the revolution's leaders - Danton, Desmoulins, Robespierre, and Saint-Just - all cut down by the reign of terror they inaugurated; Napoleon's meteoric rise from provincial Corsican military student to emperor and commander of the largest army in history; Napoleon's fall - his army's destruction in the snows of Russia, his exile to Elba, his escape and reconquest of the throne, and his ultimate defeat at Waterloo by the combined forces of Europe; and the birth of Romanticism and the dawning of a new age of active democracy and a rising middle class, laying the foundation for a new era.

©1975 Will and Ariel Durant (P)2015 Blackstone Audio, Inc. Europe French Revolution Military Middle Ages Imperialism Socialism Liberalism Russia Capitalism Soviet Union Italy
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I am extremely impressed with the efforts of the authors, to bring together an incredible history of the parallel lives during the Age of Napoleon. full of fabulous mini bio's of hundreds of important people that shared the world stage with Napoleon. Mozart, Beethoven, Coleridge, Byron, Wellington, Nelson, Czars, Kings, Politicians, Revolutionaries. what a stunning and immense work this is. I have read many many books on Napoleon, his battles, his Generals, his political career - but never did I realise how many important parallel lives were swept up into his saga. This book is simply wonderful, and I give it my highest recommendation. SB

an incredible history, one of the best

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Absolutely recommended. Writing and performance are brilliant both. Six words are still remaining here apparently.

Stupendous

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I expected this to be a relatively straightforward narrative of the French Revolution and the life and career of Napoleon, but these are only the twin pillars of a much broader European panorama of the late 18th and early 19th century that is retold here.

The wide scope of the book can be a little bewildering at times, as can the repeated and juxtaposition of climactic events and personalities with obscure and sometimes rather uninteresting minor characters.

That said, it makes for a rewarding and enjoyable listen.

A Broad Panorama of Napoleonic Europe

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Compelled to write a review because it was just so good. Not only do you learn about Napoleon and his campaigns but also poets, philosophers, artists and all the great statesmen in Europe during those turbulent times. The narrator was excellent as always. A great 50+ hours of my life

Simply excellent

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A very comprehensive overview of everything happening in Europe in this era. well worth a credit or the cost. I enjoyed it a lot and will return to it.

Terrific scope

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