The definitive biography of the great soldier-statesman by the New York Times bestselling author of The Storm of War and the first one-volume biography to take advantage of the recent publication of Napoleon's thirty-three thousand letters, which radically transform our understanding of his character and motivation.

Presents the life of the military genius who crowned himself Emperor of the French and established a vast European empire.

" This Very Short Introduction might prove disappointing to those expecting an introduction to a very short man. Dispelling the myth of Napoleon Bonaparte's short stature, as well as the other rumors and legends, David Bell provides a concise, accurate, and lively portrait of Napoleon Bonaparte's character and career, situating him firmly in historical context. This book emphasizes the astonishing sense of human possibility--for both good and ill--that...

Profiles the women who were the lovers of Napoleon and whose lives reflected the political and social upheavals of post-Revolutionary France.

"At just thirty years of age, Napoleon Bonaparte ruled the most powerful country in Europe. But the journey that led him there was neither inevitable nor smooth. This authoritative biography focuses on the evolution of Napoleon as a leader and debunks many of the myths that are often repeated about him - sensational myths often propagated by Napoleon himself. Here, Philip Dwyer sheds new light on Napoleon's inner life - especially his darker side...

An acclaimed historian turns his sights on Napoleon, casting his towering life in a new light, from his early displays of military genius through his lust for power and his eventual defeat at Waterloo and exile on St. Helena.