" ... The first single-volume, cradle-to-grave 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"--Jacket.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Introduction --Rise. Corsica ; Revolution ; Desire ; Italy ; Victory ; Peace ; Egypt ; Acre ; Brumaire -- Mastery. Consul ; Marengo ; Lawgiver ; Plots ; Amiens ; Coronation ; Austerlitz ; Jena ; Blockades ; Tilsit ; Iberia ; Wagram ; Zenith -- Denouement. Russia ; Trapped ; Retreat ; Resilience ; Leipzig ; Defiance ; Elba ; Waterloo ; St Helena. $g Introduction -- $t Rise -- $t Corsica -- $t Revolution -- $t Desire -- $t Italy -- $t Victory -- $t Peace -- $t Egypt -- $t Acre -- $t Brumaire -- $t Mastery -- $t Consul -- $t Marengo -- $t Lawgiver -- $t Plots -- $t Amiens -- $t Coronation -- $t Austerlitz -- $t Jena -- $t Blockades -- $t Tilsit -- $t Iberia -- $t Wagram -- $t Zenith -- $t Denouement -- $t Russia -- $t Trapped -- $t Retreat -- $t Resilience -- $t Leipzig -- $t Defiance -- $t Elba -- $t Waterloo -- $t St Helena.