Napoleon: The Irresistible Rise of a Corsican Adventurer (Very Short History Book 10)

Napoleon is a huge figure who dominates the historical landscape, eliciting praise and vilification in equal measure. The contradictions are everywhere: while celebrated as one of the most successful battlefield commanders, he is best known for his most significant defeat; while his legal code put in place the principle of equality that forms the basis of many modern legal systems, he is often described as the precursor to a host of modern dictators who had no regard for concerns of human rights; the inhabitant of royal palaces was at the same time never happier than when he was dining with his men on a muddy battlefield.

This very short history examines the contradictions that created one of history’s most iconic figures, covering the period from Napoleon’s birth to his coronation as Emperor of France.

The Very Short History series gives the reader a clear, concise, and very short, account of the people and events that have shaped world history. Each book provides an entertaining and engaging narrative, allowing the reader to master the subject in the shortest time possible.