Right hand traffic is his only legacy. Right. Anyways, I wondered this myself, if he had won, would he have been considered to be the founding father of modern Europe? But with his Napoleonic Code and its effects on France and Europe, the argument could still be made, though I am not sure it is as strong as would be the former, had it been realized.
Anyways, curiosities about Napoleon are what led me to this forum. In fact, during my recent stay in Versailles, what impressed or fascinating me the most was the imagery of Napoleon that I saw presented in the statues and paintings of Napoleon from his own era. I try to post a picture, but it will not let me link to it as I do not have enough contributions to this forum, but a Google Image search of Imperial Napoleon will lead to to images of the Emperor with Robe, Laurel Crown and Staff. Rather impressive looking by any standards.
I had no idea this kind of imagery existed of Napoleon, it completely rocked all of my assumptions about who he was and what he did.
Being an American with very little knowledge about the Napoleon beyond his role in the Louisiana Purchase and his efforts at "domination over Europe", I am, of course, very curious about his story now, and wonder if anyone could recommend to me a good book or two that present an objective synthesis, or at the very least provide multiple viewpoints on this great figure in relatively modern history.
Cheers.