The Napoleonic Quarterly

Our recap episodes, which offer a synthesis of our 1792-1804 coverage one year at a time, have reached 1799 - a year in which Napoleon Bonaparte achieves an astonishing turnaround in fortunes which ends with him in power. Chris Sloan talks presenter Alex Stevenson through specific key clips he's picked out from our old episodes grouped around four themes which, we argue, help frame the period and shape our understanding of it in a whole new way. We hope this will provide a helpful refresh for longstanding listeners - whilst at the same time offering an 'entry ramp' to the podcast for those who want to get up to speed relatively easily before we crash full-speed into the intensity of the Napoleonic Wars.

This episode covers a 12-month period in which Bonaparte's failed Syrian campaign leads him to attempt the desperate gamble of a return to France - which dramatically pays off when, somehow, he emerges as the country's ruler after the coup of Brumaire. That is the culmination of a remarkable year of fighting in Italy and Switzerland, with Russian heroics under the leadership of Suvorov and gritty French defence led by Massena. There really is so much going on - from the Anglo-Russian invasion of Holland to the fall of Naples, from the siege of Malta to the diplomacy of the Second Coalition - what a year 1799 truly is.
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In the sixth 15-minute section of our screenplay, Napoleon plunges into his darkest hour. Reeling from betrayal and defeat, he confronts the plague-ridden horrors of his campaign in the Levant and faces the brutal consequences of war, both on the battlefield and within himself. The myth of his invincibility shatters as failed sieges and the massacre at Jaffa weigh on his conscience. Josephine’s infidelity and his own disillusionment reach a crisis, forcing Napoleon towards a reckoning with his ambitions, relationships, and the cost of power. As despair and self-doubt threaten to overwhelm him, the stage is set for the transformation that will propel him towards his final bid for greatness.
Yes, it's episode seven of our screenwriting escapade, in which we continue to forge ahead in our mission of crafting a top-notch screenplay treatment about the life of Napoleon Bonaparte. Alex Stevenson is joined by James Topham (who knows a thing or two about screenwriting) and Ben Deery (who knows a thing or two about acting) to put the movie world to rights. Having analysed the pitfalls and frustrations of Ridley Scott's Napoleon 2023 in the first season the Napoleon Movie Quarter-Hourly, this time round the team have to come up with the magic themselves.
As our resident artificial aide-de-camp NAIpoleon Bot-aparte puts it:
Alex Stevenson opens the episode by reflecting on its many possible names, likening it to the Beatles' White Album, and notes listener feedback they’ve received for discussion 00:00:10.
01:03 - All three speakers share significant personal updates in rapid-fire, overlapping fashion to create comedic confusion for the audience
04:01 - James Topham reveals the existence of a secret WhatsApp chat with Benjamin Deery (excluding Alex Stevenson), mirroring earlier feelings of exclusion
05:52 - James Topham debuts a homemade Napoleon movie trailer, involving Benjamin Deery performing in different voices, to energize the creative process
12:04 - James Topham recaps the previous episode: Napoleon is exiled to Egypt under the guise of glory, his fleet is destroyed, and he discovers Josephine’s infidelity, marking his lowest point
20:24 - A historical debate occurs: Alex Stevenson clarifies that Napoleon was enthusiastic about Egypt rather than simply exiled, and discusses how both his ambitions and the political machinations of others shaped his choices
29:38 - The group discusses the "dark night of the soul" as a structural turning point, emphasizing Napoleon’s internal reckoning after a series of personal and military setbacks, rather than a literal period of inaction
33:30 - Alex Stevenson details three major events for Napoleon’s crisis: the plague hospital at Jaffa, a war crime (massacre of prisoners), and the failed siege of Acre—all contributing to his psychological breaking point
41:29 - The B story (Josephine’s infidelity) is revealed to have a psychological turning point for both characters, paralleling Napoleon’s emotional hardening and the collapse of romantic idealism
51:01 - The hosts reveal a major twist: this project is envisioned as a trilogy, meaning there’s much more story (and podcasting) ahead than Benjamin Deery anticipated, much to his mock dismay
Help us produce more episodes by supporting the Napoleonic Quarterly on Patreon: patreon.com/napoleonicquarterly

Charles Esdaile has a lot to get off his chest when it comes to the Battle of Waterloo - which is why he surprised me recently by asking to do what turned into a three-hour mythbusting session working through what he thinks everyone's getting wrong about the ultimate Napoleonic encounter.
As this podcast won't be making it to Waterloo for years and years - we're talking the 2030s here, people - I'm not going to stick it up on the main feed right now. On the other hand, it's too good to just be left sitting on the shelf. So this week it's been made available to our esteemed Quartermasters on Patreon, some of whom have already been very kind about it - and leaving lots of comments of their own.
The support this podcast receives through Patreon is essential to the continuing success and sustainability of the project. If you're not signed up already but listen regularly, we'd all be grateful if you gave it some consideration.

Our recap episodes, which offer a synthesis of our 1792-1804 coverage one year at a time, have reached 1798 - a year in which Napoleon Bonaparte leads an astonishingly bold expedition to capture Egypt for France, which is going astonishingly badly by the end of the year. Chris Sloan talks presenter Alex Stevenson through specific key clips he's picked out from our old episodes grouped around four themes which, we argue, help frame the period and shape our understanding of it in a whole new way. We hope this will provide a helpful refresh for longstanding listeners - whilst at the same time offering an 'entry ramp' to the podcast for those who want to get up to speed relatively easily before we crash full-speed into the intensity of the Napoleonic Wars.

This episode covers a 12-month period simply dominated by the Egyptian gambit. Dreams of becoming another Alexander the Great seem to be turning into a mirage as elusive as that seen in the dust of the Egyotian desert, with Horatio Nelson destroying the French fleet at the Battle of the Nile and unrest and disquiet in Cairo to deal with in the Upper Nile. This year also sees more developments across all our ongoing storylines. France continues to bully Italian politics; the Revolution continues to sort-of grind on with the Coup of Floreal; there is a major intervention against the Swiss; and, above all, the Irish attempt to secure indepedence from the British is dealt with in a grimly decisive fashion. This is a year in which Napoleon grabs all the headlines - but let's not forget just how important 1798 was for Ireland, too.
Help us produce more episodes by supporting the Napoleonic Quarterly on Patreon: patreon.com/napoleonicquarterly

In the fifth 15-minute section of our screenplay, Napoleon’s journey takes a sharp, downward turn. Success is replaced by mounting setbacks as our hero heads to Egypt - an ambiguous mission that isolates him from power and allies. The Directory’s antagonism grows ever more apparent, Josephine’s betrayals come to light, and disaster strikes in the form of Nelson’s fleet. As loyalty in his own ranks falters, Napoleon faces not only external foes but the erosion of his own myth, setting the stage for the looming low point of his story.
In episode six of our screenwriting escapade we continue to forge ahead in our mission of crafting a top-notch screenplay treatment about the life of Napoleon Bonaparte. Alex Stevenson is joined by James Topham (who knows a thing or two about screenwriting) and Ben Deery (who knows a thing or two about acting) to put the movie world to rights. Having analysed the pitfalls and frustrations of Ridley Scott's Napoleon 2023 in the first season the Napoleon Movie Quarter-Hourly, this time round the team have to come up with the magic themselves.
This episode features a bonus contribution from our own Prof Alexander Mikaberidze from 35:40 - explaining the precise nature of the incontrovertible evidence of Josephine's infidelity which Junot is supposed to have presented to Bonaparte...
As our resident bot NAIpoleon Bot-aparte puts it:

A Playful Opening and Format Mash-Up
The episode begins with a tongue-in-cheek parody intro as “Cavalry Matters,” poking fun at historical drama tropes and AI-generated content, before moving into the “Napoleon movie” project focus 00:00:09.

Introduction of the Team and Their Roles
Alex Stevenson introduces the project collaborators: Benjamin Deery (acting expertise) and James Topham (screenwriting expertise). The trio set out to reimagine Napoleon’s story for the screen 00:01:26.

Recap and Structure So Far
James Topham recaps their progress, summarizing the story up to scene 20—the film’s midpoint. He details five key scenes depicting Napoleon’s transition from general to budding ruler and the dynamic with Josephine 00:03:14.

Dramatic and Character Developments
The team walk through significant scenes involving military victories, shifting romantic dynamics (including Napoleon’s changing feelings for Josephine), negotiations, and turning points, such as Josephine’s infidelity and the metaphorical “unripe pear” scene 00:04:34.

Debate over Historical Events and Narrative Choices
There’s an in-depth discussion about the authenticity and dramatic effectiveness of sending Napoleon to England vs. Egypt, with concerns about narrative payoff and dramatic logic for audiences 00:12:22.

Motivations Behind the Egyptian Campaign
Alex Stevenson provides historical context for Napoleon’s Egyptian adventure, discussing the Directory’s motives, the project’s ties to myth-making, prestige, and the origins of Egyptology (including the Rosetta Stone) 00:16:16.

Identifying the "Bad Guys Close In" Phase
The team frame the next segment of their narrative as the “bad guys close in” phase, per Blake Snyder’s structure. This act will feature setbacks for Napoleon, the Directory as antagonists, and cracks forming within Napoleon’s “gang” 00:22:02.

Setbacks in Egypt and Antagonist Dynamics
A list of major setbacks is outlined: confirmed betrayal by Josephine, isolation after Nelson destroys the French fleet, Ottoman intervention orchestrated by the Directory, and discussions on how to visually and narratively stack these blows for dramatic effect 00:27:32.

Reintegrating and Redefining the "Gang"
They debate how to portray dissension among Napoleon’s loyalists. 00:43:22.

Looking Ahead: Approaching the Low Point
The episode closes with a preview of the next section: Napoleon’s imminent “all is lost” moment, a stretch defined as the dark night of the soul, where all seems lost before act three begins. 00:51:07.