Although I have not read it, I believe "A Penguin Life" is not a pejorative, saying that he resembles a penguin in appearance, personality, or actions. Rather, it is a series by Penguin books.
Never have I read such a mixture of hatred & admiration for one man. Obviously, the man is not a Napoleonist, but British to the core. All the same, it was a good book. Rather just than listing dates & battles, it explains the strategies used in the battles in an easy-to-follow manner. It also has little known anecdotes regarding Napoleons personal relationships.
However, there are several indescrepancies. Whether it is on the part of the author or the editior, it is difficult to tell. For example, page ten states Luien (1775 1846) was more amendable to Bonaparte schemes, serving him as a soldier & later as King of Holland; but ill-health & lack of enthusiasm forced him to abdicate in 1810, when he faded from public life. In actuallity, it was Louis (who is not mentioned at all in the book) that was to become King of Holland & it was his mental instability that forced him to abdicate. Lucien, on the other hand, had defied Napoleons plans for him by marrying for love [twice] & choosing to stick to the ideals of the Revelution rather than embracing Imperialism. The same case of misidentification is repeated on page 109. (Reported, but not corrected to this date.)
Johnson followed on the heels of Giles (author of Napoleon Bonaparte: English Prisoner) by also including a section of artists & literary figures of the period & their opinions of Bonapartism.
However, there are several indescrepancies. Whether it is on the part of the author or the editior, it is difficult to tell. For example, page ten states Luien (1775 1846) was more amendable to Bonaparte schemes, serving him as a soldier & later as King of Holland; but ill-health & lack of enthusiasm forced him to abdicate in 1810, when he faded from public life. In actuallity, it was Louis (who is not mentioned at all in the book) that was to become King of Holland & it was his mental instability that forced him to abdicate. Lucien, on the other hand, had defied Napoleons plans for him by marrying for love [twice] & choosing to stick to the ideals of the Revelution rather than embracing Imperialism. The same case of misidentification is repeated on page 109. (Reported, but not corrected to this date.)
Johnson followed on the heels of Giles (author of Napoleon Bonaparte: English Prisoner) by also including a section of artists & literary figures of the period & their opinions of Bonapartism.
