Napoleon: A short history of Towering Ambition

Author(s) : LEPERS (author) Stéphanie, ROSSELL (translator) Tony, SCHOPPHOFF (illustrator) Bettina
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Napoleon: A short history of Towering Ambition

Our opinion:

This little book might look small but it’s actually big on the inside, like its subject. Yes, it’s the story of Napoleon’s life – told in the first person no less. Well it has to be really, given how much this little guy has to say. Readers will soon realise that this Napoleon has an exaggerated sense of himself and does not balk at speaking his mind! And, surprise surprise, Napoleon even speaks anglais quite well! His colourful life spills out onto the 73 fully-illustrated pages without hesitation, deviation or repetition (ok, the word “ME” does occur rather often), indeed our narrator hardly pauses to eat or sleep, literally almost from the moment he is born until his death. In fact, he doesn’t stop at death, oh no! Even death cannot silence our hero! His epic continues until quite a long time after his death (in case you didn’t know, like Elvis, Napoleon lived on beyond the grave, so indeed he is around to tell the tale not just of his life but of his legend). He recounts the incredible adventure that was his life at such a lightning pace, so much so that he barely scratches the surface, well, what do you expect in 73 pages? Admittedly, quite a few of the battles are missed out, indeed, Waterloo is barely mentioned (I wonder why…) Unsurprisingly our man concentrates on his PROUDEST achievements with a mere nod to his minor failings (he’s an awful chess player). “Visionary but a touch myOpic, I am what one calls a GREAT man” (remind you of anyone?) This Napoleon, despite his total lack of modesty, is quite a charmer and keeps us entertained until the very last page of this Short History of Towering Ambition. (Rebecca Young)

Recommended for readers of age 6 upwards.

by Stéphanie Lepers illustrated by Bettina Schopphoff, and translated from the French by Tony Rossell.

To buy this book https://www.lalibrairie.com/livres/napoleon–a-short-history-of-towering-ambition_0-5421135_9791095600039.html?ctx=01146bafb5a1c69fd00b6f498a9f546

or on the website of Les Superflus https://www.les-superflus.com/

Year of publication :
2018
Place and publisher :
Avon (France) , Les Superflus
Number of pages :
73
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