Bonaparte's Men - The Conquest of Power, 1793–1800

He would become Consul for Life in 1802, Emperor of the French in 1804. Contrary to convention, the emphasis here is placed on the collective character of this singular adventure, which is not the story of one man alone. It mobilizes a host of actors, each representing groups with a direct stake in the establishment of the new regime.

As the pages turn, one discovers or rediscovers the figures of those who accompanied Bonaparte in his quest. From the very first companions-in-arms (Junot, Marmont) to those who distinguished themselves during the Italian or Egyptian campaigns (Murat, Davout, Lannes), soldiers are of course among the principal characters. But politicians quickly enter the scene as well (Cambacérès, Talleyrand, Roederer), along with scientists (those of the Egyptian campaign and the Institut such as Berthollet and Monge), merchants and financiers (Périer, Perrégaux), not forgetting the Bonaparte clan or the women, foremost among them the future empress Joséphine, and Madame Mère.

And many others, drawn from the most diverse backgrounds. One might think that without them, Napoleon could never have achieved such success, and that without him, none of these individuals would have had so exceptional a destiny. It is the synergy uniting so many brilliant personalities — among which that of the future Emperor is of course the most astounding — that forms the substance of this book.