Napoleon's Brothers

Napoleon's Brothers by Andrew Hilliard Atteridge was published in the early 20th century, a period marked by a surge in biographical historical writing that sought to humanize the figures surrounding the French Emperor. Atteridge, a journalist and military correspondent, focused his work on the shifting roles and political fortunes of Joseph, Lucien, Louis, and Jérôme Bonaparte. The book functions as a collective biography, examining how these men were both beneficiaries of Napoleon's rise and casualties of his demands, often finding themselves cast as puppets in his vast imperial restructuring of Europe.

The design and narrative approach reflect the conventions of Edwardian-era historical scholarship, prioritizing political analysis through the lens of family dynamics and dynastic power struggles. Atteridge utilized his background in chronicling military campaigns to provide a structured, if sometimes critical, account of the brothers' individual reigns in territories such as Spain, Holland, and Westphalia. Upon its release, the volume was recognized for its accessibility, providing a balanced look at the tensions between Napoleon’s domestic authoritarianism and his brothers' occasional desires for autonomy.