Napoleon in Egypt

Oct 19, 2024 9:20 PM

Author:Paul Strathern

Napoleon in Egypt

Napoleon's attack on Egypt in 1798 was the first on a Middle Eastern country by a Western power in modern times. With 335 ships and 40,000 men, it was the largest long-distance seaborne force the world had ever seen. Napoleon's assault was intended to be much more than a colonial adventure, however, for he took with him over one hundred and fifty scientists, mathematicians, artists and writers - a 'Legion of Culture' - with a view to bringing Western civilization to 'backward' Egypt.

Ironically, what these intellectuals discovered in Egypt would transform our knowledge of Western civilization and form the basis of Egyptology. But there were also setbacks. Nelson's destruction of the French fleet at the Battle of the Nile apparently put an end to Napoleon's secret plans to follow in the footsteps of Alexander the Great and invade India.

Napoleon was just twenty-eight when he invaded Egypt and it was an episode which contained in embryo many seminal events of his later career and set the standard for his brilliant, ambitious and ultimately disastrous career.

Reviews

Paul Strathern's enthralling description of this bizarre imperial adventure reads like Conrad's Heart of Darkness...as a piece of storytelling, it is a masterpiece

—— Daily Telegraph

To begin with, the book leaps off the shelf-display into the hands: the dustjacket is a remarkably fine reproduction of a painting of Napoleon...This is an illuminating and most engaging book

—— Spectator

Superb... Strathern tells the appalling tale of the forced marches across endless deserts...with commendable gusto

—— Andrew Roberts , Sunday Telegraph

An ambitious and wonderfully detailed saga

—— Financial Times

This is popular narrative history at its best

—— Independent on Sunday

A comprehensive and gripping read, as great an overview of war and hubris as can be managed in 400 pages

—— Scotland on Sunday

A well-written, fast-paced narrative... This book is a welcome and readable addition to the ever-growing library of books about this French colossus

—— BBC History Magazine

As a stirring narrative of doomed military endeavour, his book could hardly be bettered

—— Sunday Times

His account of the 6 week odyssey to Alexandria provides an intimate portrait of the squalid, fetid life on board eighteenth century ships, and his description of the successive stages of the expedition are well-judged. He also captures the tensions of the occupation with skill

—— Herald

Previous Article：Mrs Woolf and the Servants Next Article：The Secret History

Comments

Welcome to zzdbook comments! Please keep conversations courteous and on-topic. To fosterproductive and respectful conversations, you may see comments from our Community Managers.