In this interview Ruth Scurr tells me about Napoleon’s relationship with gardens throughout his life. Napoleon was interested in botany and tending gardens satisfied his inherent scientific curiosity.  However, Napoleon also viewed gardens as a space for reflection and where he could have deep philosophical conversations with his peers.

Paul Valéry wrote that it ‘is a pity to see a mind as Napoleon’s devoted to trivial things such as empires, historic events, the thundering cannons

In that quote Valéry essentially asks us: What path would Napoleon choose if he decided not to become a military genius?

This is a question, that I believe, Dr. Ruth Scurr explores in her brilliant book Napoleon: A life in Gardens and Shadows

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