Alan Palmer’s An Encyclopaedia of Napoleon’s Europe is a comprehensive A-Z of life in the age of Napoleon, the years between 1797 and 1815.
Artists, poets, philosophers, scientists and authors all advanced society in their own ways, while men at court and on battlefields fought gruesome wars and suffered from the perils of the age.
Napoleon’s Europe, naturally, was so much more than one man, though Napoleon was a pivotal figure in contemporary history. He conquered foreign lands, passed laws, spoke regularly to the rulers of Europe, freed its people while ruling with an iron fist and gave his name to a series of wars.
In the eighteen years centred on by Palmer, Russia woke up to its potential for European dominance, and nationalism seized the people of both Italy and Germany, who came together as countries rather than a series of disparate discrete regions. These countries and their noble men and women are listed with as much detail as their French counterparts.
Someone who picks up the encyclopaedia will enjoy learning much about the men who shaped the times. Battles are chronicled and placed within the context of the time in which they were fought. There are detailed entries on members of Napoleon’s family and military ranks, the ministers who served him and the places in which they served.
There is a thorough contents page which lists individual categories and sub-categories, which cover every conceivable theme, from the Arts to Diplomacy to Internal Affairs, Religion and Royalty.
There are helpful details on the way the calendar was altered at the time, as well as biographies of the popes Pius VI and Pius VI. Palmer also provides good explanations of some of the issues of the age, including the status of the Jews, Catholic Emancipation, serfdom and slavery.
This is an essential primer in the era, a useful starting point for all students of modern history.
This item is in Very Good condition. There is some very minor coloring of the pages. There is some minor shelf wear. As usual, the photos are of the item that you will receive.