The Invisible Emperor: Napoleon on Elba from Exile to Escape

I'm glad I read the book, but it could have been much better. 1) I noted several incomplete sentences and other grammatical mistakes. What happened during the editing process? 2) A list of characters and a brief description of each would have been great. I've found them helpful in War and Peace and other books with numerous characters. The actors in this book were introduced and then often neglected for many pages before being mentioned again. Especially during the first third of the book, I had to refresh my memory by either looking up the characters in the index and returning to the page on which they were introduced or googling them before continuing the story. 3) I would have loved better maps showing all the referenced hotspots, although they were easy to find online. 4) Most importantly, the book began with only a bit of information prior to Napoleon's surrender, progressed at slow, meandering pace during the days on Elba, and then madly raced to the end. The beginning was fairly free from detail; the ending was full of hurried detail. The lack of a balanced pace and the lack of complete editing made me wonder if the author rushed to meet a publication deadline. Perhaps that's the reality of today's publication process.

After having plowed through many comprehensive biographies of Napoleon, it was nice to read a pleasant book focused on only the first exile of this fascinating figure of world history. Why didn't they just kill him; why Elba; what did he do on the island; what happened to his wife; how did he manage to make it back to France?Max Braude has a good grip of his subject matter and writes clearly. He also provides the common reader the gift of short chapters. There is much useful information in the end-notes section of his book.If you ever visit Paris, be sure to see Napoleon's tomb at Les Invalides.

I knew that Napoleon had briefly escaped exile, but had no idea what a remarkable piece of history and moment in time it was, or what an amazing person he was apart from the many archetypal myths and areas where he has crept into our collective consciousness. Provides just the right amount of well-sourced detail and surrounding historical facts to the story. I pre-ordered this book because I liked Mark Braude's book on Monte-Carlo so well, and it exceeded my hopes. Highly recommended, whether the reader is a history buff or not.

Awesome audiobook. Interesting historical perspective about interesting time in European history. Very personal view of the characters surrounding napoleons first exile.

Great book. It would make for a great movie as well.

very well written interesting from beginning to end

Napoleon is a fascinating character. Born to minor nobility on Corsica he created the role of Emperor of the French and came to dominate the attention of Europe until his first forced abdication in 1814. After that, Europe was confronted with the question of what to do with him? Execution seemed too extreme and escape to America or exile in England too risky. Placement as Emperor of Elba, a small island in the Mediterranean, was Tsar Alexander’s suggestion. “The Invisible Emperor” is the chronicle of that experiment.This work runs from the decision to use Elba as an imperial cage to Napoleon’s escape and arrival in Paris. It introduces the reader to Elba, as the Emperor found it, his mindset and life on the island, the initiatives he made during his short rule and people who were important during his tenure. Col. Neil Campbell, his British minder, had to live with the record of having let his charge slip away. Wife Marie Louise maintained a distant correspondence while under the watch of her father, Austrian Emperor Francis. Elba’s relationship to France and Italy mirrored Napoleon’s own.Napoleon was left with a boat, a minor armed force and time to share life with his subjects and plot his return. The accounts of events on Elba reflect on the subject’s restless persona in a small realm. Narratives of conditions of the restored Bourbon monarchy in Paris, rollback of reforms in the Papal States and other items place Napoleon’s time on Elba and return to Paris in continental perspective.Author Mark Braude employs a writing style that covers the material while holding the readers’ interest. His chapters vary in length depending on what is needed for the topic. For those seeking a familiarity with Napoleon I recommend starting with a full-life biography. When seeking a more detailed study “The Invisible Emperor” is an excellent resource focusing on a frequently overlooked but important aspect of the Napoleon saga.

This is one of the best books on Napoleon that I have read - and I have read several. Focusing on his exile in Elba and the events leading up to the 100 days of his return to France this book, through the close study of one year, seems to get to the heart of the Napoleon's life and character.His energies were too big for Elba; the road improvements, establishment of law courts, a theatre, a library, drainage and potato crops were not enough to occupy the man who had forged an empire - and so the hundred days and the events leading to Waterloo became almost inevitable. Add to that the failure of the victorious powers to honour the pension provisions agreed at Fountainbleu, and the separation (forced or otherwise) from his wife and child, and the rumours of plans for a more distant exile were all too much for a peaceful 'retirement'.This book relates these events fairly, without descending into hagiography in any way, but also without characterising Napoleon as the despot of some accounts. The writing style makes for a highly enjoyable as well as informative read and i thoroughly enjoyed the book

I just finished reading Mark Braude's book for the second time after about 6 months and I enjoyed it even more on the second time through. I felt the need to read it again because I kept thinking about it and it drew me back and was rewarded with more details I didn't notice the first time through.The book tells the story of Napoleon's exile to Elba, his (brief) life there and his eventual escape along with the stories of many of the ancillary characters surrounding him at this time. The book is decidedly not the life story of Napoleon. Instead it largely takes for granted that the reader has at least a basic knowledge of Napoleon's prior life -- although it does an admirable job of efficiently summarizing much of the period before his exile -- and focuses on this one unique period in Napoleon's life. Much as David McCullough in 1776 only covers a one year period in a much larger story, this book gives you a deep look at Napoleon not as master of the universe but as master of only a tiny island.Braude's writing style is very clear, concise and easy to read. It is an impressive work of history with incredible and fun details found throughout. Highly recommended for Napoleon buffs and fans of European history.