Napoleon

Here is a book that I have been looking for for some time, a book that incorporates the magnificent artwork of the Napoleonic period along with a detailed profile of Napoleon. The result is magic and a pure delight to the eye. Proctor Jones has done a splendid job at merging the two memoirs of Menval (Napoleon's secretary) and Constant (Napoleon's valet) to provide a detailed and intimate account account of Napoleon. This is not a book that details Napoleon's battles or strategic genius but is a book that provides a wonderful insight into his character and personality instead. What comes across is that Napoleon was indeed human with many strengths and weaknesses and is not the ogre or monster as often portrayed by British propaganda. One can see the the unboundless energy, emotion, magnetism and even quirky habits of the man as seen through Menval and Constant. The artwork is plentiful and compliments the events as described in the narrative. This is a superb book, printed on high quality paper and an essential addition to any buff of the Napoleonic period. You will not be disappointed, only delighted.

I will begin this review by saying that I knew Proctor Jones and liked him very much. I had the privlege to travel with him and visit many of his friends while I was living and working France. He was a wonderful man and an enjoyable companion and I will fondly cherish my memories of him.Even today his memory is still strong for those of us who knew him and his name is a talisman which opens doors which otherwise would be sealed.Many people claim to have access to special or unknown collections. Proctor was the real deal. This book was a labor of love for Proctor. He set out to publish pictures that had not been seen in other books...he spent an unbelievable amount of money, time and effort tracking down unpublished art and securing the right to publish it in this book.He then published this book himself because no publisher would print it at the level of quality he wanted. He was particular about the paper, the binding and the detail of the reproductions...Proctor then was able to get Jean Tulard to do the preface...virtually impossible for an American author...and even launched the French version of the book at a reception at Malmaison (I was there).Proctor never intended to make money on the book...It was his intention to bring these works to an audience who would otherwise find them inaccessable. I know for a fact that at the print run he authorized he lost tens of thousands of dollars just on the royalties and fees he paid for the permission to reproduce these paintings.This book is in a limited print run in English and in French and when they are gone they will be gone. Just like Proctor.Proctor I will miss you and I thank you for producing this book.

This is a fantastic book as it includes within its cover a feast of great Napoleonic paintings and memorabilia which is worth the price alone. The text is finely edited by Proctor-Jones, comprising of an interwoven thread based on two memoirs of two men who were closely linked to Napoleon. One was his secretary, C Meneval and the other is his personal valet W Constant.Every dedicated Napoleonophile should own a copy.

There are numerous books on Napoleon Bonaparte, but this is THE book that I had to possess on the great man himself. The visual feast of illustrations compiled in this book alone more than justifies the ridiculously low price of the book relative to other pictorial books on the same subject. The judicious use of illustrations and the careful editing of two writing styles, one by Meneval (Napoleon's secretary) and the other by Constant (Napoloen's valet), by Proctor-Jones has transformed what could have been a boring translation of two French diaries into a vivid account of Napoleon's life as Emperor of Rome. Both accounts may have been biased in favour of the Emperor but Proctor-Jones was clever in not interjecting any of his personal opinions as editor and thereby, has created a classic work on the subject.