Ridley Scott's "Napoleon"

Can't wait. I've only been to France once but it gave me an appreciation of French history that makes me want to take a deeper dive. Planning trips around books and movies is my biggest inspiration.

Planning trips around books and movies is my biggest inspiration.

For me I come for the books/movies, but stay for the history!

Thank you for the link Carlos. We were in Israel in March and didn’t realize Napoleon made it to Tel Aviv and after being defeated, left his ill soldiers behind in an Armenian monastery to die.
Also, on the island of Lokrum, off the coast of Dubrovnik, there is an abandoned fort that Napoleon built. There is no record of him actually being there though.
We are really looking forward to seeing this movie. Can anyone recommend a good book about Napoleon? I only need to read one but would like it to be a good one.
Thank you in advance.

I did not know about this film, however I read the Andrew Roberts biography on Napoleon not long ago and then visited his tomb on my last trip to Paris. A very intriguing, complicated person. In many ways the first modern dictator, but still mostly revered in modern, democratic France.

I also second the recommendation for Andrew Roberts' Napoleon: A Life, a very complete biography. I believe it's also available as a audiobook on audible.

Thank you, Carlos, I am greatly looking forward to this movie. I have been intrigued by NB for years. I hope it's as close to reality as possible. Joaquin Phoenix, Mark Bonnar (Shetland) and Ian McNeice (Doc Martin) are in it--some of my favs.

Wasn’t on my radar, didn’t know about it, so thank you Carlos. I’m sure it will be very Hollywood-ized but still enjoyable.
I’ve always been fascinated by Napoleon.

I highly recommend visiting Malmaison, just outside Paris, the estate where he lived with Josephine.

I hope it's as close to reality as possible

Well... from the trailer they definitely used some creative license. Napoleon probably did not shoot at the Great Pyramid of Giza lol! Joséphine's hair looks a bit off for the era, but probably trying to allude to her childhood in the Caribbean.

But I'll admit it has to be a balance between entertainment and historical accuracy.

Thanks for the book recommendation.

The trailer looks great!

"cough Pyramids cough"

Historical correct though: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Pyramids

Napoleon is still everywhere in Europe. Most of continental Europe still follows a civil law system based on the Code Napoleon for example.

"cough Pyramids cough"... Historical correct though: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Pyramids

Well not the way they are depicting it in the film, where they are fighting right next to them and they shoot the Great Pyramid with cannon haha.

The so called "Battle of the Pyramids" (renamed later by Napoleon) actually took place 15 kilometers from the Pyramids, they were just about visible in the distance. After Napoleon became emperor, the battle was given legendary status and used as propaganda, many French paintings later erroneously depicting the battle right next to the Pyramids (as it is shown in the trailer).

The 1970 film Waterloo (Rod Steiger, Chris Plummer) is a must if you are into this epic battle and period of French history. Shows many historically accurate (and a few less so) details of the battle. Filmed in Ukraine, the vast, sweeping troop movements were filmed using thousands of Soviet soldiers costumed as French, British, and Prussian soldiers.

I will need to see this, and I wonder how it will compare to the incredible 1927 silent film Napoleon by Abel Gance--I had the pleasure of seeing the 5 1/2 hour restored Brownlow version of it (and there is now even a 7 hr version being edited) in a gorgeous Art Deco theatre in Oakland, with full orchestral accompaniment, and for the final battlefield scene they had installed 2 additional screens that opened up to show it in all its glory.

Here's another vote for Andrew Roberts' biography of Napoleon.

And another. It's Napoleon: A Life by Andrew Roberts, Viking (2014). Amazon's selling the hardcover for $152 which is ridiculous, look for a paperback or Kindle or your public library. It's 800+ pages, well written though some parts may interest you more than others. If you get the hardcover it can be used later as a doorstop. ;-)