Okay, so due to the failings of the American school system, I really don't know much about the Napoleonic wars other than "Napoleon declared war on every country in Europe simultaneously, and somehow it almost worked out." Anyway, that's enough to get me interested, so I was wondering if the kind folks at ask historians could recommend some good books on the subject. Preferably ones that aren't too dry, and would be understandable to someone who has very little knowledge of the era.
I've lately been reading "Napoleon" By Frank McLynn. The book is a general biography of Napoleon and it covers his life as a young Corsican boy all the way to his downfall.
Good read.
I haven't watched it but there is an HBO miniseries of War and Peace, which is set during Napoleon wars and invasion of Russia. I found the older movies gave me a better understanding of the time, attitudes, armies etc. Certainly not as dry if you're worried about that.
And you hit two birds with one stone, history and although you're not reading the book you at least get a movie adaptation of a great work.
You really could not go wrong with The New Cambridge Modern History Vol. IX but that would be very dry and if you don't have library access to it, quite expensive. Are you interested more in war, culture, diplomacy, or general history? Or somewhere else?
I highly recommend "Swords Around A Throne" by John R. Elting. It's ostensibly an organisational history of the Grand Armée but it covers every facet of life in the army, from how men were recruited and trained, how they marched and ate, how they fought etc. It also gives backgrounds for the Royal and revolutionary armies that cave before Napoleon and the armies of the restored Bourbons, as well as Napoleons allies and enemies.
I found it a very easy and enjoyable read (it was the book that got me interested in the Napoleonic period). It's full of personal stories and anecdotes that paints a vivid picture of the time - not just the generals and politicians but the lower officers and rankers as well.