Makers of History: 32: Napoleon Bonaparte

John S. C. Abbott (1805-1877) wrote The History of Napoleon Bonaparte in 1855 when he was 50. Historian and clergyman, the Maine native graduated from Bowdoin College class of 1825, which included Nathaniel Hawthorne and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. "The history of Napoleon has often been written by his enemies," declares Abbott in the opening of his preface. "This narrative is from the pen of one who reveres and loves the Emperor." He describes the plan for the work as a "plain narrative of what Napoleon did, with the explanations which he gave of his conduct, and with the record of such well-authenticated anecdotes and remarkable sayings as illustrate his character." Regarding this sources, he states, "every incident here recorded, and every remark attributed to Napoleon, are well authenticated."