Wow, the post by Ken was very informative. I'm impressed.
Perhaps this little fact will amaze you, there are more books written about Napoleon than any other historic figure, including Jezus!

As for the popularity of this period, I'd like to add that many countries were affected. Almost the whole of Europe as well as their colonies around the world. Then off course America too. Therefore it is a personal history for many people, instead of something that happened in a foreign country 200 years ago.

Secondly, besides Napoleon, the supporting cast of figures were all persons of great colour. Emperor Francis of Austria might have been an non-entity, but people as Nelson or Talleyrand were figures that captured the imagination.

Thirdly, the idea of an egalitarian society was a novel one for the period and it put people in the spotlight, especially the French Marshals, that were "larger than life" yet remained within the "reach" of the common people. Wellington is a great historical person but he is a "typical" aristocratic general as so many of the period (buying a commision, then quickly buying his way to higher ranks, using political influence to get the plum jobs)and certainly not as flamboyant as Radetzky who fathered bastards at age 80. Imagine however men that started out as sergeants and drummerboys, fighting some of the most famous armies of the time, commiting acts of bravery that boggle the imagination, rising to high rank and finally becoming Princes and Dukes. These were action heroes that did their own stunts and were household names in Europe!

Lastly, one must mention the man himself, Napoleon Bonaparte! His story is a romance that bestrides the ages. A man of obscure background rises to become the leader of the most powerful nation on earth by his own efforts and not an accident of birth! Then, he overreaches and sees his empire collapse. Banished, he makes a triumphant return, only to be defeated again. Finally caged, he is banished again, far away from civilization. There he either dies from assorted ailments or is murdered by a Bourbon agent.

However you look at it, if your a fan of the Emperor or see him as the Corsican Ogre, it is a powerful story and I feel the main reason for the attraction of the period.

Lex