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Praise for The Wars Against Napoleon
"Placing Napoleon’s civil, diplomatic, and military accomplishments in the context of European counterrevolution, Weider and Franceschi take a strong stand against the widely-held image of Napoleon as a war-loving conqueror. Instead, they argue that Napoleon was a man of peace who was forced into war by an implacable Old Regime which viewed him as the incarnation of Revolution. Broad in scope while sharp in focus, this iconoclastic book is sure to stimulate passionate debate among specialists and non-specialists alike."
- Professor Rafe Blaufarb, Ben Weider Eminent Scholar,
Institute on Napoleon and the French Revolution, Florida State University
"Provocative . . . revisionist . . . controversial."
- Publishers Weekly
"According to these authors, it is a myth of the Napoleonic wars that Napoléon was a megalomaniacal conqueror who bled Europe dry in order to satisfy his insatiable love for war. Certainly, such is the most widely printed and accepted description of Napoléon's motive. After all, history is written by the victors. In this book, however, retired French general Franceschi and Weider (coauthor with Sten Forshufvud, Assassination at St. Helena Revisited) present a compelling revisionist portrait of Napoléon as fundamentally pacifist. They base this on three sound themes: first, that the European monarchies were thoroughly opposed to the continuance of revolutionary France; second, that Napoléon made constant determined efforts to avoid the inevitable conflicts; and third, that Napoléon never declared war, as he himself stated in exile on St. Helena. In each of these areas the authors argue strongly, persuasively, and intellectually for what is, essentially, the other side of the usual story. They will surely provoke debate within the historical community wherever there is interest in this period. Recommended for all libraries adding to their Napoleonic collections. (Illustrations not seen.)"
- David Lee Poremba, Keiser Univ., Orlando, FL,
Library Journal
"General Franceschi and Mr. Weider had written a “labor of love” that historians who share their admiration of the late emperor will want to put on their “must read” list."
- Thomas Zacharis,
Book Reviewer
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Table of Contents
