We all love to hate the Napoleon Movie - high hopes left dashed by a lacklustre storytelling, sloppy editing and a disdain for the historical. Now meet the man who wants to right that wrong! Connor O'Brien is a producer who wants to create a short film about a soldier in the Battle of Lundy's Lane, fought in Canada in 1814. His vision is for this project to be a stepping stone to a much larger production about set at the Battle of Waterloo.

I sat down with him to talk about his vision behind 'The Coward' (the short film he's creating), why he is putting historical accuracy front and centre of his film making, and how, in his words, he's bringing a 'Saving Private Ryan' approach to the Napoleonic Wars.

This is a fantastic project which we're very keen to support. If you would like to chip in to the fundraiser, check out the link below - you will not be charged unless the project reaches its funding goal.

Support 'The Coward': https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/exorbito/the-coward-short-war-film-2026

Find out more about the project: https://thecoward1812.com

Napoleon III was in equal parts implausible, hapless and ambitious. But in 1848 he finally succeeded in achieving his long-held ambition of taking power in France. In the second instalment of our exploration of Napoleon III's life, we explore how he bounced back from his second failed coup, seized the initiative in the course of the 1848 revolution, and honed his populist style of politics to appeal to all sides of the political divides. How did he reverse his fortunes as an escaped political prisoner to become President of France, and why as President did he decide to carry out yet another coup? Edward Shawcross returns to take us through this rollercoaster of French politics and intrigue.

Get Edward's books: https://www.faber.co.uk/product/9780571361304-the-peoples-emperor/?srsltid=AfmBOoomYEkfA0l83B2WxSnkmV7WFm30bUTqFFdkdxD7UlFQs7ltCPIf

https://www.faber.co.uk/product/9780571360581-the-last-emperor-of-mexico/

Support the show at https://www.patreon.com/thenapoleonicwarspod

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Louis Napoleon and his coups

02:12 Exile in London and social life in the demi-monde

03:49 Louis Napoleon's political ambitions and 1848 revolution

07:08 The rise of the Second Republic and the new electoral landscape

11:52 Louis Napoleon's electoral strategy and populist appeal

15:49 The 1848 presidential election and his surprising victory

21:05 The use of plebiscites and propaganda to legitimize power

25:02 The 1851 coup d'etat and the path to empire

29:57 Challenges faced by Louis Napoleon as president

35:00 The expedition to Rome and foreign policy missteps

40:05 Consolidation of power and the 1852 referendum

44:49 The legacy of Louis Napoleon and lessons on populism

keywords

Louis Napoleon, Napoleon III, French history, populism, coup d'etat, 19th-century France, political strategy, democracy, revolution, empire

This year, Matthew Taylor worked in partnership with Apsley House to create a 'Waterloo Weekend' commemoration, featuring talks by top historians hosted in the Waterloo banquet room in the Duke of Wellington's London Residence, Apsley House - also known as 'Number One, London.

Featuring Graeme Callister, Michael Rayner, Luke Reynolds, Matthew Taylor, and some reprobate called Zack White, the Napoleonic Wars Podcast was privileged to be given exclusive access to the event to record the talks, which we now present for your viewing pleasure. So be prepared to shout 'Vive L'Empereur', 'God Save the King', and declare that 'Now is your time' as we recount the Battle of Waterloo, revisit the Waterloo Banquet, remind ourselves of Wellington's crime and punishment nightmares, and consider the experiences of black soldiers in the Napoleonic era in a two hour extravaganza.

Visit Apsley House: https://www.wellingtoncollection.co.uk

Support our work at patreon.com/thenapoleonicwarspod