It has become the mantra of modern historical documentaries that, above all else, style should trump substance. As long as the subject involves travelling to exotic or highly cultured locations where presenters in panama hats and rolled up sleeves marvel at great buildings or works of art, then what is actually being talked about is almost a secondary concern. History, it would appear, should be seen rather than heard. It was with some reluctance, therefore, that I began watching the latest BBC offering dealing with the life of Napoleon, written and presented by historian Andrew Roberts. What compelled me to do so was a combination of ignorance and fascination of a man who, more than any other figure before him, came to dominate Europe. Continue reading
Hammy Reviews 