The Age of Napoleon

A gift to humanity

I've just spent 20 months absorbing the entire 11 volume series during my commute to work. Every day, I could not wait to listen. When I heard the last sentence of the last series spoken, I felt as though my life had reached a new epoch - crossing some type of threshold summing up my understanding about the nature of man and the history of our civilization.

This work by Durant is not just a record of history tinged with philosophy, but a gift to posterity by a lifetime of research and a craft of language distilled into a masterpiece of art.

There is far too much information to retain in one reading so I've decided to start listening to the series again from the beginning.

Thank you Mr. and Mrs. Durant.

26 of 28 people found this review helpful

Great End of a Great Series

This is the final book of the wonderful eleven volume "The Story of Civilization" series. For my comments on the series as a whole see my review of book 1 "Our Oriental Heritage".

This is one of my favorite volumes of the series. This was book was the last written (in the late seventies) and Durant's style improved a bit over the years and the writing is a bit less dated. Durant continues his approach of integrated history, covering business, crafts, art, science, economics, politics, classes, and even rulers and war (along with some dates).

This volume covers roughly 1777-1840 including more of the French revolution and the Napoleonic period and aftermath. Durant attempts to portray Napoleon evenhandedly, pointing out his despotic tendencies as well as his democratic feelings and respect for justice and law, and setting the context of the Terrors.

This series can seem daunting, but it is really quite easy, pleasant, and (yes, hard to believe) short. This is my third time through the series (which took a tad over 3 years to complete this time) but I read & listened to many other books over that period. The material is not like most other histories. I like to say it is 20% about sex. Who is sleeping with whom (or not) and other various relationship details. Another 20% is about historical figures you already know quite a bit about. 20% is background about day to day life of each period, that you haven't heard about, but is easy to understand and makes everything else more interesting. Another 20% is about major events, most of which you already know quite a bit about. The final 20% are details about the most interesting lesser known characters and events related to the people and events you already knew about. Thus, almost everything in the series is very approachable and builds into a completely enjoyable whole. My daughter started the series in high school and did not find it boring or tedious. Just cut out a little TV each day and you will finish the series in just a few years (and perhaps want to start it again!) I enjoyed it more each time through.

Even this last volume is dated and the series has a strong western anglo-saxon bias, nevertheless, it is well worth the investment. I am sure it is not for everyone, but I recommend anyone who likes history give it a try.

The narration throughout the series is excellent.

6 of 7 people found this review helpful

Will and Ariel Never Fail

What made the experience of listening to The Age of Napoleon the most enjoyable?

This looong history paints scenes encouraging you to step in - feel the tensions, see the people and snapshot moments that made history. The endless research and witty descriptions never fail to inform and amuse.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

A Great Historians, Greatest Mistake

In a few words, this book represents a must read.

It is a must read not because it describes the era and the man accurately or truthfully;

This is a must read because it is the most clear example of history being written by the victor, the English Oligarchy (whose hold on the world has grown so pervasive, it has infected, and nearly ruined all of Western civilization, by way of callous, yet subtle imitation.)

An elucidating obfuscation of truth, representing the herculean efforts of a few individuals, who would rather witness the entire collapse of the species, before relenting even a single iota of the arbitrary wealth and power, they so rarely deserve.

Everywhere within this text, Durant makes his true bias painfully obvious, often by immediately contradicting himself in ways I have rarely seen in the remainder of his work.

With that said I do not condemn this book, and in fact support reading it thoroughly, so long as the reader understands that taken as whole, the book is a shining example of that egotistical elitism so absolutely fundamental to English thought; Here lying within this text, a treatise on the benefits of oppression for the minority of the opulent.

Vive l' Empereur

Vive Napoleon

Great ending to a great series.

This last book in this eleven volume collection, that the Durant’s did not expect to live long enough to write, was every bit as good as the first ten. My only regret is that I never got to spend an evening talking to them.

despite the cliche, magisterial

as far ranging and brilliant as its subject. settle in and enjoy the writing of a well seasoned master (two of them, actually).

An Illustrious End to a Marvelous Series.

I had a fantastic time listening through since Volume 9;
I suspect I will reapproach the earlier volumes once I have again a taste for those periods. I would love to hear what the Durant's would have to say about these modern times! Despite a smattering of inaccuracies, the value of the narrative, in vivacious compelling voice, leads to engagement in so many elements of history that are nowadays neglected. Beautiful writing and I suspect I will return to listen again for comfort and pleasure in the following years.

never too much...

information from Will Durant. This is possibly one of the most detailed accounts of the European world during the reign of Napoleon.

No more wisdom in human affairs

Would you consider the audio edition of The Age of Napoleon to be better than the print version?

The audio edition is more practical to go back and listen to bookmarked passages. However, in this case, maps were necessary to visualize the war.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Napoleon deminstrated amazing management skills.

Have you listened to any of Stefan Rudnicki’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

His performace is as the other narratives he gave in the Story of Civilization.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No. The diversity of the stories represented in the chapters and books make it impossible to listen in one sotting, unlike a fiction novel.

Any additional comments?

Sad this was the last book.

A masterpiece

An important work on one of the few people who truly played a role in changing human history.