1. Napoleon: The Early Years
Dan Snow's History Hit
History Hit
4.7 • 13.7K Ratings
🗓️ 20 November 2023
⏱️ 32 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
He clawed his way to the zenith of power with a relentless determination that few could fathom... he conquered empires, destroyed armies and out of the smouldering rubble of the revolution made himself the Emperor of the French; his name was Napoleon Bonaparte.
Was Napoleon destined for greatness, or was just in the right place at the right time? Well, Biographer Andrew Roberts, author of Napoleon the Great says its both. In the first episode of this four-part series, Andrew and Dan pick through Napoleon's years growing up on the island of Corsica to his military education in France that instilled in him the discipline, skills and spirit that made him a solitary and cerebral individual but a charismatic leader of men. They explore the impact of childhood bullying, his sexual awakening in the French Revolution and his early belief that he was destined to change the world.
Produced by Mariana Des Forges, Freddy Chick and edited by Dougal Patmore.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Attention at all passengers. You can now book your train tickets on Uber and get 10% back in Uber credits to spend on your next train journey. |
| 0:11.0 | So no excuses not to visit your in-laws this Christmas. |
| 0:16.5 | Trains now on Uber. Tees and sees apply check the Uber app. |
| 0:22.3 | This episode the podcast is sponsored by Ridley Scott's new action epic film Napoleon |
| 0:28.0 | starring Wachim Phoenix and Vanessa Kirby only in Cinemas November the 22nd. Why Napoleon and why now the big man? |
| 0:37.0 | In many respects he is one of the great curiosities in history. It's here at last folks. It's a sumptuous, wild fantastical |
| 0:47.8 | depiction of the life of Napoleon. This genius commander who won victories from Portugal to the pyramids and the gates of Moscow. |
| 0:56.0 | It's a truly awesome spectacle. |
| 0:59.0 | There are cavalry charges, there are one-line zingers, as a food fight, and the Royal Navy gets a strong cameo. |
| 1:08.1 | The movie tracks the kind of relentless journey of Napoleon Bonaparte to the pinnacle of power through the prism of his |
| 1:14.4 | addictive his volatile relationship with his one true love Josephine. You get the |
| 1:19.1 | politics, you get the romance, but against the backdrop of some of the most extraordinary battle |
| 1:24.1 | sequences I've ever seen film. |
| 1:25.9 | Do you feel incredibly lucky that you created these epic, epic films? |
| 1:30.8 | Every time? |
| 1:31.6 | Yeah. Every time. Every time. |
| 1:33.0 | And it's the first time I came to be out in the field and he said, who are all these people? |
| 1:38.1 | I said, this is all for you, Maine. |
| 1:39.5 | You go, yeah. |
| 1:40.7 | This movie is an event. |
| 1:42.3 | You're going to want to see it on the biggest screen possible. |
| 1:45.0 | Book tickets to see Napoleon in the town and Brano and the village of |
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