One Hundred Days: Napoleon's Road to Waterloo

Alan Schom doesn't think very highly of Napoleon, but he nevertheless has written an engrossing account of the little Corsican's escape from Elba, return to power, and defeat at Waterloo. (This period actually lasted a bit longer than 100 days, but who's counting?) Bonaparte, in Schom's view, was a despot who placed nepotistic interests ahead of national ones. He was plainly not good for the country he ruled, according to the author. But his military skills were exceptional, and he may have carried off a victory on the Belgian fields if his underlings hadn't bungled their duties. Schom breaks no new historical ground with One Hundred Days, but he tells his tale well.