At the college, Napoleon was surrounded by the children of French aristocrats, he faced ridicule at school due to his distinctive accent. Unfazed, he refrained from socializing with his peers, viewing the French as colonizers. His dream was to witness his country, Corsica achieve independence.
Napoleon’s isolation drove him to find solace in books, particularly drawn to Enlightenment-age philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau, the primary reason for that was Rousseau wrote about Corsican freedom, and considered the Corsicians brave in his writings. In addition to philosophy, Napoleon exhibited a keen interest in mathematics, history, and geography, excelling in these subjects.
Among his favourite reads was Plutarch’s ‘Parallel Lives’, a compilation of 45 biographies featuring historical figures like Alexander the Great and Julius Caesar. Napoleon found inspiration in Caesar, often drawing comparisons. Upon completing his schooling, Napoleon joined a military academy in Paris, specializing in artillery. Graduating as the second lieutenant of the Royal Artillery in the French army, during all of this, he would often return to Corsica continuing to idolize Pasquale Paoli.
