Imagine the ultimate 'gotcha' moment, but written as a serious academic paper. That's the core of this strange and wonderful little book.

The Story

There's no traditional plot here. Instead, Pérès constructs an argument. He takes the framework of a real (and controversial) book of his time, which claimed Jesus was a myth based on solar symbolism. Pérès applies this framework point-by-point to the very real, very recent life of Napoleon Bonaparte. He matches Napoleon's birth, his rise to power, his military campaigns, his exile, and even his family members to attributes of the sun god in various mythologies. The 'proof' is laid out with mock-scholarly precision. He 'demonstrates' that 'Napoleon' is simply a codeword for the sun, and his entire epic story is just an allegory for the sun's journey across the sky and through the seasons. The sheer audacity of applying this to a man whose veterans were still walking the streets is what makes it so brilliantly funny.

Why You Should Read It

This isn't just a historical curiosity. It's a razor-sharp lesson in critical thinking, wrapped in a joke. Reading it, you watch a logical house of cards being built with perfect seriousness. It forces you to ask: If this method can 'disprove' Napoleon, what does that say about the method itself? Pérès isn't really attacking Napoleon; he's exposing the flaws in a certain kind of reductive, pattern-forcing scholarship. The humor comes from the disconnect between the outrageous conclusion and the calm, 'reasonable' tone used to get there. It’s a reminder that a persuasive style can make almost any idea sound plausible, and that we should always look at the foundations of an argument, not just be dazzled by its construction.

Final Verdict

Perfect for history fans who enjoy a good intellectual puzzle, lovers of satire from Mark Twain to Swift, and anyone who's ever rolled their eyes at a flimsy conspiracy theory. It's a quick, brain-tickling read that packs a surprising punch. You don't need to be a Napoleon expert to get the joke—you just need a healthy sense of skepticism and an appreciation for a prank played at the highest level.