Napoleon in Egypt

Paul Strathern’s enthralling description of this bizarre imperial adventure reads like Conrad’s Heart of Darkness…as a piece of storytelling, it is a masterpiece * Daily Telegraph *To begin with, the book leaps off the shelf-display into the hands: the dustjacket is a remarkably fine reproduction of a painting of Napoleon…This is an illuminating and most engaging book * Spectator *Superb… Strathern tells the appalling tale of the forced marches across endless deserts…with commendable gusto – Andrew Roberts * Sunday Telegraph *An ambitious and wonderfully detailed saga * Financial Times *This is popular narrative history at its best * Independent on Sunday *A comprehensive and gripping read, as great an overview of war and hubris as can be managed in 400 pages * Scotland on Sunday *A well-written, fast-paced narrative… This book is a welcome and readable addition to the ever-growing library of books about this French colossus * BBC History Magazine *As a stirring narrative of doomed military endeavour, his book could hardly be bettered * Sunday Times *His account of the 6 week odyssey to Alexandria provides an intimate portrait of the squalid, fetid life on board eighteenth century ships, and his description of the successive stages of the expedition are well-judged. He also captures the tensions of the occupation with skill * Herald *

Paul Strathern studied philosophy at Trinity College, Dublin. He has lectured in philosophy and mathematics. He is a Somerset Maugham prize-winning novelist; the author of two series of books - Philosophers in 90 Minutes and The Big Idea- Scientists who Changed the World; The Medici- Godfathers of the Renaissance; and, most recently, has written Mendeleyev’s Dream (shortlisted for the Aventis Science Book Prize) and Dr. Strangelove’s Game- A History of Economic Genius.