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Mark Bryant
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Napoleonic Wars in Cartoons Paperback – August 19, 2015

by Mark Bryant (Author)
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 19 ratings
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‘Mark Bryant has done it again. He has shown that one of the best ways of learning history is to look at cartoons. …All this is made clear in this brilliant and concise account…Each cartoon tells a tale, expertly described by Bryant…This is an exhilarating way to learn about the Napoleonic Wars…This beautifully produced book is a treasure – plunder it!’ Lord Baker of Dorking, Cartoon Museum News

‘A veritable feast…so full of interest on every page. For those interested in the social commentary of the period, or for someone who just wants a book to dip into, to flick through the pages and admire the prints, I can think of no better example at such an affordable price as this. A book which you can pick up and enjoy time after time.’ Keith Oliver, Napoleonic Association

‘A fascinating portrait not only of Napoleon but of Britain in the 19th century.’ Catholic Herald

Napoleon Bonaparte was the most caricatured figure of his time, with almost 1,000 satirical drawings about his exploits being produced by British artists alone. The diminutive, pugnacious French emperor was a gift to cartoonists and the Napoleonic Wars were the main topic of interest for some of the greatest artists of ‘The Golden Age of Caricature’. Indeed James Gillray’s The Plumb-Pudding in Danger (1805) – featuring British Prime Minister William Pitt and ‘Little Boney’ carving up the globe in the form of a Christmas pudding – is not only one of the best known political cartoons of all time but is also one of the most parodied and is still being adapted today by cartoonists worldwide. Napoleonic Wars in Cartoons is divided into chapters each prefaced with a concise introduction that provides an historical framework for the drawings of that period. Altogether more than 300 cartoons and caricatures from both sides of the conflicts, in color and black-and-white, have been skillfully blended to produce a unique visual history.
Previous page
  1. Print length
    160 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Grub Street Publishing
  4. Publication date
    August 19, 2015
  5. Dimensions
    10.5 x 0.75 x 13.5 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1910690023
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1910690024
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Dr Mark Bryant is a leading authority in the field of historical cartoons and caricature. Other titles he has produced for Grub Street include World War I in Cartoons, World War II in Cartoons (both now in paperback) and The World's Greatest War Cartoonists and Caricaturists, 1792—1945.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Grub Street Publishing; Reprint edition (August 19, 2015)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 160 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1910690023
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1910690024
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.69 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 10.5 x 0.75 x 13.5 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 19 ratings

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Mark Bryant

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Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7 out of 5
19 global ratings

Top review from the United States

tholty
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful and entertaining.
Reviewed in the United States on May 14, 2017
Verified Purchase
I loved it!! But then I am already a collector of Gillray, Cruickshank and Rowlandson prints. What a wonderful way to teach history!! Although on second thoughts, perhaps not - portraying the French people as monkeys and Napoleon as a dwarf is somewhat out of step with our times? The things ordinary folk laughed at and worried about is something that is overlooked or ignored by the writers of history and which is addressed beautifully in this volume. It does make one ponder the stoicism and grit of the British people when you consider that for almost 50 years (1776 - 1815) they were almost constantly engaged in war with mighty adversaries in North America and on the continent of Europe. Which then fed into a century during which they created an Empire and were at the forefront of the Industrial revolution. Did all the war-time effort create the later successes, I wonder?
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Top reviews from other countries

bunell
5.0 out of 5 stars That Little Boney that England was so afraid of
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 24, 2024
Verified Purchase
This is a must for Napoleonic era buffs. Best cartoons from British artists of the era. Great commentary that puts that all in historical context. What I am missing is more cartoons from 1814 and 1815, especially those of French royalist origin. After Napoleon's first abdication they were distributed by Restoration. During Hundred Days there were also fine cartoons created by Bonapartists that took the aim at Bourbons.
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Dr John the Day Tripper
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent capsule history of the Napoleonic Wars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 23, 2011
Verified Purchase
I bought this because of a general interest I have in cartoons and caricatures, and I have previously purchased Mark Bryant's excellent cartoon histories of World Wars 1 and 2. However, this one also holds a special interest for me because the Napoleonic Wars coincides with the golden age of Gillray and Cruikshank, and Gillray is - in my view - probably one of the finest caricaturists there has ever been. This collection shows just how prolific he was,for how long, and the quality of his drawings, and the biting level of the satire is second to none. (Which is not to say that there aren't many other fine cartoons and caricatures in this collection, although many look very crude by comparison).

In addition to this, however, this is also a very fine capsule history of the Napoleonic Wars, and the ebbs and flows of fortune over an extended period. I think this is the first time I've ever really got an overview of what happened, and why, during this era, and I'd heartily recommend it as a source of information as well as a fine collection of social and satirical comment.
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Fulk Nerra
5.0 out of 5 stars Fine addition to my bookshelves.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 12, 2018
Verified Purchase
Loved it. The perfect complement to text based history. Plus a lively insight into how the people of the time felt about the momentous events they were living through.
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Erryd
5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable history.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 17, 2019
Verified Purchase
Within 158 pages and 1000 satirical drawings, Napoleon's rise from junior artillery officer to Emperor, is presented with clarity, interest and amusement.
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Benjamin Girth
4.0 out of 5 stars Propaganda & Art, sophisticated, literate & subtle
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 28, 2012
Verified Purchase
I came to this book having read "Britain and the Defeat of Napoleon" (Rory Muir) 1807-15 and "George III: A Life in Caricature" (Kenneth Baker). Here is a small but excellent collection of cartoons (although as the author points out they should be termed caricatures) and narration.

Dr Bryant's organises the material well. He starts with a 30-page commentary on the early years, where he sketches the historical events 1789-1801 introducing the artists and illustrating their work. Then each year is considered separately concluding in 1815. There is a wealth of compelling - entertaining - detail.

This is a sophisticated, literate and subtle means of communication. Essentially what this book shows is how art and propaganda fused to address a mass market. We all assume we are better informed and more sophisticated than our predecessors, but then compare these caricatures with modern satirical cartoons. It seems we have regressed. And go further back, to the English Civil War and look how well argued and literate were the popular political pamphlets.

This short (160 pages) A4 format book is best suited to those with some knowledge of Napoleonic period. My only "criticism" it would have been better for being A3 and many more examples. Using art, this is a very compelling way to absorb huge amount of history.
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