The Death of Napoleon

By Simon Leys

Book Overview

Napoleon Bonaparte escapes exile just before death in this quirky alternate history novel that reimagines the life of the great French emperor.

"This comic tale of Napoleon's imaginary yet all-too-human tribulations poses serious questions about the relationship of truth, history and imagination." --The Wall Street Journal

Napoleon has escaped from St. Helena, leaving a double behind him. Now disguised as the cabin hand Eug ne Lenormand and enduring the mockery of the crew (Na­po­leon, they laughingly nickname the pudgy, hopelessly clumsy little man), he is on his way back to Europe, ready to make contact with the huge secret organization that will return him to power. But then the ship on which he sails is rerouted from Bordeaux to Antwerp. When Napoleon disembarks, he is on his own.

He revisits the battlefield of Waterloo, now a tourist destination. He makes his way to Paris. Mistakes, misunderstandings, and mishaps conduct our puzzled hero deeper and deeper into the mystery of Napoleon.

Adapted into Alan Taylor's 2001 film The Emperor's New Clothes, The Death of Napoleon is a smart alternative history for the Napoleon obsessed--as deep and compelling as it is quirky and fresh.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1590178424
• ISBN13: 9781590178423
• Release Date: May 2015
• Publisher: New York Review of Books
• Length: 144 Pages
• Weight: 0.41 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 5.0" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

Just one word, "Incredible!"

WOW, this was a fine example of literary genius at its finest!! I could not put this book down. If you are a fan of "historical ficton", place this book on the top of your reading list!!!

A short, wonderful novel

Simon Leys usually writes histories, but he created an absolute gem in his only foray into fiction--albeit, historical fiction. Death of Napoleon is a simple and spellbinding must-read, a rare thing of masterful beauty from first page to last.

Thought-provoking

This book is a little gem that examines the different views of people on life. By concentrating wholly on wars and empires, Napoleon "wasted" his life and remarkable mind without ever experiencing the true humanity of exhistence. Love was a complication for him, not a pleasure. To him, what was most important was to make a name for himself, a name that would shine in the annals of posterity. Ley examines the reprecussions of this want of Napoleon. It leaves the "great little emperor" a broken man, a poor farmer, who has never know real happiness. Ley carries his story with color and fevor. I only wish the novelett was longer.