Carl Sternheim's Napoleon: Eine Novelle is a book that completely upends what you expect from a story with that title. Published in 1915, it feels startlingly fresh and relevant.

The Story

The hero, if you can call him that, is Theobald Maske. He's a boring, rule-following clerk living a dull, respectable life in pre-WWI Germany. But Theobald has a secret obsession: Napoleon Bonaparte. He doesn't just admire him; he decides to become him. He renames himself Napoleon, adopts the famous posture with his hand tucked in his waistcoat, and starts issuing 'decrees' in his own household. The plot follows his absurd campaign to impose his Napoleonic will on his wife, his colleagues, and his social circle. The comedy and tension come from watching this small man's grandiosity smash against the rigid conventions of his society. Will his 'reign' succeed, or will he be defeated by the mundane forces of gossip and propriety?

Why You Should Read It

I loved this book because it's so clever about human nature. Sternheim isn't really writing about the historical Napoleon; he's writing about the Napoleon in all of us—that part that wants to be special, to command respect, to break free from life's boring script. Theobald Maske is hilarious and pathetic, but you also kind of root for him. His rebellion, however misguided, is against a stuffy, hypocritical world. Sternheim's writing is crisp and ironic. He exposes the petty tyrannies of everyday life while showing how dangerous a little borrowed glory can be. It's a story about the costumes we wear and the identities we try on, which feels incredibly timely.

Final Verdict

This is a perfect pick for readers who enjoy sharp social satire, dark comedy, and character studies of wonderfully flawed people. If you like authors who poke fun at society's absurdities—think a German cousin to Evelyn Waugh or early Kurt Vonnegut—you'll appreciate Sternheim's wit. It's also great for anyone interested in early 20th-century literature that bridges the gap between traditional storytelling and modern psychological insight. Don't go in expecting a history lesson. Go in expecting a funny, biting, and surprisingly poignant story about a man who wanted to be a giant in a world determined to keep him small.