Napoleon in Egypt - Tapa blanda

"A compelling narrative of an epic collision between two civilizations.... Evok[ing] the incredible hardships endured by French soldiers in an unforgiving land. At the same time, he offers a poignant view of a Muslim society overwhelmed by invaders. ... Strathern's skillful use of memoir and other primary sources brings to life one of the most fascinating campaigns in military history."--"Library Journal," starred review "In between the battle scenes, Strathern paints a portrait of Napoleon the man, sketching his humiliation over wife Josephine's infidelities and his implausibly lofty ideals, which spawned a generation of Romantic artists."--"Kirkus Reviews" "Paul Strathern's enthralling description of this bizarre imperial adventure reads like Conrad's Heart of Darkness....As a piece of storytelling, it is a masterpiece."" --Daily Telegraph ""As a stirring narrative of doomed military endeavour, [Strathern's] book could hardly be bettered." --"Sunday Times" "Ambitious and wonderfully detailed saga...Strathern admirably balances the various legacies of the expedition while keeping the focus on its military character." --"Financial Times Magazine ""Those looking for an exciting, comprehensive narrative history of the whole expedition are advised to hunt down [this book]." --Tom Reiss, author of "The Orientalist ""Very entertaining and well-written book. Strathern is very careful about his sources . . . so that a finely balanced picture emerges." --"Times Literary Supplement" "A well-written, fast-paced narrative . . . This book is a welcome and readable addition to the ever-growing library of books about this French colossus." --"BBC History Magazine" "[Strathern] has written a stirring narrative of the Egyptian adventure, which simultaneously demonstrates how Napoleon's experiences in Egypt foreshadowed many aspects of his later rule in France....This is popular narrative history at its best." "-- Independent ""Superb . . . Strathern tells the appalling tale of the forced marches across endless deserts . . . with commendable gusto." --"Sunday Telegraph" "Illuiminating.... Napoleon in Egypt is undoubtedly the finest account of the Savants and their contribution to the fields of archaeology, ancient history, and botany to date.... A necessary addition to any Napoleonic shelf."--"Christian Science Monitor " "In between the battle scenes, Strathern paints a portrait of Napoleon the man, sketching his humiliation over wife Josephine's infidelities and his implausibly lofty ideals, which spawned a generation of Romantic artists."--"Kirkus Reviews" "Paul Strathern's enthralling description of this bizarre imperial adventure reads like Conrad's Heart of Darkness....As a piece of storytelling, it is a masterpiece."" --Daily Telegraph ""As a stirring narrative of doomed military endeavour, [Strathern's] book could hardly be bettered." --"Sunday Times" "Ambitious and wonderfully detailed saga...Strathern admirably balances the various legacies of the expedition while keeping the focus on its military character." --"Financial Times Magazine ""Those looking for an exciting, comprehensive narrative history of the whole expedition are advised to hunt down [this book]." --Tom Reiss, author of "The Orientalist ""Very entertaining and well-written book. Strathern is very careful about his sources . . . so that a finely balanced picture emerges." --"Times Literary Supplement" "A well-written, fast-paced narrative . . . This book is a welcome and readable addition to the ever-growing library of books about this French colossus." --"BBC History Magazine" "[Strathern] has written a stirring narrative of the Egyptian adventure, which simultaneously demonstrates how Napoleon's experiences in Egypt foreshadowed many aspects of his later rule in France....This is popular narrative history at its best." "-- Independent ""Superb . . . Strathern tells the appalling tale of the forced marches across endless deserts . . . with commendable gusto." --"Sunday Telegraph" "Paul Strathern's enthralling description of this bizarre imperial adventure reads like Conrad's "Heart of Darkness,."..As a piece of storytelling, it is a masterpiece."" --Daily Telegraph ""As a stirring narrative of doomed military endeavour, [Strathern's] book could hardly be bettered." --"Sunday Times" "Ambitious and wonderfully detailed saga...Strathern admirably balances the various legacies of the expedition while keeping the focus on its military character." --"Financial Times Magazine ""Those looking for an exciting, comprehensive narrative history of the whole expedition are advised to hunt down [this book]." --Tom Reiss, author of "The Orientalist ""Very entertaining and well-written book. Strathern is very careful about his sources . . . so that a finely balanced picture emerges." --"Times Literary Supplement" "A well-written, fast-paced narrative . . . This book is a welcome and readable addition to the ever-growing library of books about this French colossus." --"BBC History Magazine" "[Strathern] has written a stirring narrative of the Egyptian adventure, which simultaneously demonstrates how Napoleon's experiences in Egypt foreshadowed many aspects of his later rule in France....This is popular narrative history at its best." "-- Independent ""Superb . . . Strathern tells the appalling tale of the forced marches across endless deserts . . . with commendable gusto." --"Sunday Telegraph"

Napoleon's invasion of Egypt in 1798 was the first attack on a Middle Eastern country by a Western power in modern times. With 400 ships and 55,000 men, it was the largest, long-distance seaborne force the world has ever seen. But Napoleon's assault was intended to be much more than a colonial adventure for he took with him more than a hundred scientists, mathematicians, artists and writers - a 'Legion of Culture' for the purpose of bringing Western civilization to 'backward' Egypt. Ironically, what these intellectuals discovered in Egypt would transform our knowledge of Western civilization and form the basis of Egyptology. Travelling to the far reaches of the Upper Nile, Napoleon's artists sketched the great temples and ruins of the Pharaohs, and his soldiers uncovered the Rosetta Stone, which would eventually lead to the deciphering of the mysterious Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs. But there were also setbacks. Nelson's destruction of the French fleet at the Battle of the Nile apparently put an end to Napoleon's ambitions, though the General himself did not see it that way. His secret plan was to follow in the footsteps of Alexander the Great and invade India.Being cut off from France meant that he was free to indulge his 'oriental dream' and found his own Eastern empire, with its independent culture developed by his young French intellectuals. Napoleon was just twenty-eight when he invaded Egypt and it was an episode which contained in embryo many seminal events in his later life. Epic military victories, his declaration of himself as emperor, the introduction of the Napoleonic Code, even the retreat from Moscow and his abandonment of his army - all of these were foreshadowed in his brilliant ambitious and ultimately disastrous adventure.