Review by Choice Review
"The One Hundred Days" is a term used by historians to denote that period beginning with Napoleon's escape from his exile on the Island of Elba in February 1815, through the period immediately following his defeat at Waterloo, June 1815, and his eventual exile on the Island of St. Helena. This period has not attracted as much attention as others in Napoleon's illustrious career, partly because of the failure of his efforts to reestablish himself on the throne of France. Consequently, Napoleonic scholars have tended to focus on more exciting and successful aspects of Napoleon's life. Those who study the Napoleon phenomenon are frequently classified as either pro-Napoleon or anti-Napoleon. Schom is clearly among the latter. Although the book is nicely written, adequately researched, and in many ways a thoughtful look at the period, it is flawed in that the author unnecessarily characterizes Napoleon's motives and actions in the most base and negative manner. This bias detracts from what otherwise is a sound and very readable study. General; undergraduate; graduate. G. C. Bond; Auburn University Main Campus
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Booklist Review
In this minutely detailed reenactment of the Corsican usurper's gambling return to power and final defeat in 1815, Schom exhibits a distinctly different style from the more even-handed grandeur that characterized his previous Napoleonic epic, Trafalgar: Countdown to Battle [BKL N 15 90]. The author this time is irritably indignant at Bonaparte for escaping not only the isle of Elba, but the judgment of history, or rather its condemnation, for causing so much death and destruction. In fact, the fugitive's reputation has not escaped the historian's lash (e.g., Napoleon: For and Against by Pieter Geyl, 1949), Schom's harsh stream of pejorative obiter dicta notwithstanding. His prime strength and attraction to a public library patronage is adhering to a narrative of the French emperor's progress to Paris, his new pose of liberality, and his whirlwind preparations for renewed warfare, culminating in the myriad details surrounding his advance into Belgium and faulty conduct of the ensuing battle. In this populistic respect, Schom has organized a crescendo story from researching the stupendously vast literature about Waterloo, a decisive battle that was bigger and bloodier than Gettysburg and exerts an equal hold on the imagination as a result. ~--Gilbert Taylor
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Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Schon ( Trafalgar ) writes of Napoleon's escape from Elba in February 1815 and his return ``like a thunderbolt'' to France. Rallying the nation behind him, he mustered his army and marched off to meet Wellington at Waterloo. Schon describes the extraordinary logistical feat carried out jointly by War Minister Louis Davout and Interior Minister Lazare Carnot while Napoleon himself concentrated on mobilizing the troops. Waterloo was a crushing defeat, to be sure, but Schon argues that Napoleon's basic plan of campaign was a good one. The main problem, he maintains, was that the senior army commanders (marshals Soult, Ney and Grouchy) either disobeyed Napoleon's orders or deliberately hindered their execution. No admirer of Bonaparte, Schon describes how, ``in utter defiance of the facts,'' his reputation rebounded after his death and developed into the Napoleon myth. This is a first-class reconstruction of Napoleon's final campaign. Illustrations. Paperback rights to Oxford. (Sept.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by Library Journal Review
General readers will enjoy this detailed and engagingly written account of an epic historical drama: Napoleon's escape from the island prison of Elba and vainglorious attempt to re-establish his throne in defiance of international accords. Popular historian Schom ( Trafalgar , LJ 11/15/90) speculates on Napoleon's motives; describes in detail the personalities of other key players, including the obese and ineffective King Louis XVIII; traces the Napo leonic regime's devastating effects on France; and evaluates the extent of both the hostility toward and support for the returned Emperor. Most importantly, the author frankly and honestly assesses the obstacles Napoleon faced in re-establishing his army, reorganizing his government, and consolidating his hold on a nation ravaged by and weary of war. This popular work does not pretend to offer new historical analyses or perspectives--just a fascinating and gripping narrative.-- Marie Marmo Mullaney, Caldwell Coll., N.J. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
By itself, Napoleon's mid-1815 defeat at Waterloo, barely four months after he had escaped from Elba, was so dramatic that historians often neglect the events leading up to the climactic clash between insurgent French and Allied forces. In the engrossing chronicle at hand, however, Schom (Trafalgar, 1990, etc.) offers a detailed record of the so-called Hundred Days--a period roughly coinciding with Louis XVIII's absence from occupied Paris. Schom is also at pains to dispel any romantic notion that Napoleon was other than a self-absorbed despot whose vaulting ambition cost France dearly. Having landed near Cannes on March 1st, Napoleon moved north on the capital to reclaim his imperial throne. The military apart, precious few Frenchmen welcomed his return. Bled by more than a decade of constant conflict, the country yearned for peace. By the start of June, in fact, the usurper had been obliged to place cities throughout the nation under martial law, leaving him shy of troops to fight against the Anglo-European coalition massing for an invasion along the Belgian frontier. As Schom makes clear, though, Napoleon might well have prevailed in the three-day engagement at Waterloo had it not been for the battlefield insubordination of three senior commanders (marshals Grouch, Ney, and Soult). While the author does a splendid job of recounting the high and low points of Napoleon's second coming, his lively narrative's real power derives from the human-scale perspectives provided by incisive profiles of the emperor's friends, foes, and family. Schom includes finely etched portraits of, among other colorful characters, Klucher, Carnot, Fouché, Napoleon's four brothers, Talleyrand, and the Duke of Wellington. A master annalist's vivid reconstruction of a turning-point in world history. (Eight pages of illustrations--not seen.)
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Review by Choice Review
Review by Booklist Review
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Review by Library Journal Review
Review by Kirkus Book Review