BBC review
Review
of The Napoleonic Guide by Sevan Bastajian of Click
Online
"History
is a set of lies agreed upon, A throne is only a bench covered
with velvet, A leader is a dealer in hope".
Have you guessed who spoke these memorable phrases? Well,
a whole site has been dedicated to this pint-sized Corsican
and it's well worth a browse of Napoleon Guide.
Let's get the bad bits out the way first.
Unlike
the man it portrays, the site's not handsome or pioneering.
The navigation bar is a list of unattractive hyperlinked
text, and the design feels a little amateur and cobbled
together.
Tant
pis, as the French would say, the content though really
makes up for the lack of design aesthetic.
Each
aspect of Napoleon's life is explored, from images of the
Emperor as a young man, at his coronation, and in the battlefield.
If
the battlefield is an interest area, then maps highlight
where combat took place and give an indication of Napoleon's
relentless ambition.
There's
also more detailed information on the specific area of conflict.
Love
letters aren't what Napoleon is most famous for, but they
provide a fascinating insight into how he felt towards Josephine
while away on various campaigns. There are also a few to
his other lovers which provide an interesting contrast.
The
site places Napoleon's life in context with the era, and
I couldn't resist highlighting this particularly gruesome
contraption - the guillotine
- used to execute around forty thousand people during the
French Revolution.
There's
a lot to explore on the site so take your time...
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