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...