What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedNapoleon
Abel Gance · Film · 1927
If you loved Napoleon, start with War and Peace (2016) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 3 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Napoleon across media.
What hooked you in Napoleon was the way grand, sweeping historical ambition collides with the intimate, volatile lives of individuals.
Books on the same thread
War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
Leo Tolstoy · Book · 2020
Explores: Napoleonic Wars, Russian aristocracy, Family life.
Just as Napoleon captures the French leader's rise through epic cinematic scale, this novel grounds the chaos of the Napoleonic Wars in the deeply personal experiences of the Russian aristocracy.
War and Peace (Война и мир)
Leo Tolstoy · Book · 1869
Explores: Napoleonic Wars, Russian aristocracy, Social class.
If you appreciated the myth-making found in Napoleon, this unique version offers a fresh, unfiltered perspective on the same historical conflicts that defined the Corsican general's own legendary career.
War and Peace
graf Leo Tolstoy · Book · 1983
Explores: Russian Society, Napoleonic Wars, Love and Relationships.
This dramatization matches the sweeping scope of Napoleon by translating historical upheaval into a vivid auditory experience that highlights the complex human nature behind the era's massive military campaigns.
Think and Grow Rich
Napoleon Hill · Book · 1937
Explores: Wealth Creation, Positive Thinking, Goal Setting.
While Napoleon explores the rise to power through historical drama, this volume provides the foundational principles of success that explain the drive and ambition required for such monumental influence.
Series on the same thread
War and Peace
Series · 2016
Explores: Russian Nobility, Napoleonic Wars, Social Class.
This adaptation mirrors the historical gravity of Napoleon by interweaving the intimate love stories of the nobility with the massive, transformative impact of the 1812 invasion of Russia.
Jesus of Nazareth
Franco Zeffirelli · Series · 1977
Explores: Faith, Redemption, Sacrifice.
Much like the epic biographical approach in Napoleon, this series dramatizes a singular, world-altering life, focusing on the heavy burden of leadership and the profound weight of historical destiny.
The Civil War
Series · 1990
Explores: Brother vs. Brother, Reconstruction Era, Abraham Lincoln.
This documentary captures the same political upheaval and military intensity seen in Napoleon, documenting how national conflicts tear through individual lives during times of profound, nation-defining systemic change.
Podcasts on the same thread
Dan Carlin's Hardcore History
Dan Carlin · Podcast · 2026
Explores: civilizational collapse, human nature, moral ambiguity.
If the moral ambiguity of power in Napoleon fascinated you, this podcast applies that same critical, unorthodox analysis to history's most defining figures and the consequences of their ambition.
Revolutions
Mike Duncan · Podcast · 2025
Explores: societal collapse, power dynamics, cyclical history.
This series explores the cyclical patterns of power and societal collapse, providing a deeper analytical context for the revolutionary fervor that propelled the subject of Napoleon to prominence.
Keep exploring
Common questions
How long is the 1927 version of Napoleon?
The 1927 film Napoleon is an epic biopic directed by Abel Gance. It traces the life of Napoleon Bonaparte from his early schooldays in Corsica through the French Revolution and the Terror, finally concluding with his military campaign during the invasion of Italy in 1797.
Does Napoleon cover the entire life of Bonaparte?
No, the 1927 Napoleon focuses on the earlier stages of his career. The narrative begins with his time as a student and follows his journey through the French Revolution, ending specifically with his triumphant invasion of Italy in 1797 rather than his later life.
What historical events are depicted in Napoleon?
Napoleon features key historical periods including his childhood in Corsica, the political instability of the French Revolution, the period known as the Terror, and his military rise during the invasion of Italy in 1797. The film uses creative techniques to parallel these events with natural imagery.
Is Napoleon based on a true story?
Yes, Napoleon is a biographical film about the life of Napoleon Bonaparte. It depicts his career trajectory from his youth in Corsica to his emergence as a military leader during the French Revolution and his successful 1797 campaign in Italy.