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.

The rousing story of Lafayette--aide-de-camp and "adopted son" of George Washington--explores his vital role in the American Revolution.

" 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...

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.