Renowned for its accuracy, brevity, and readability, this book has long been the gold standard of concise histories of the Napoleonic Wars. Now in an updated and revised edition, it is unique in its portrayal of one of the world's great generals as a scrambler who never had a plan, strategic or tactical, that did not break down or change of necessity in the field. Distinguished historian Owen Connelly argues that Napoleon was the master of the broken play, so confident of his ability to improvise, cover his own mistakes, and capitalize on those of the enemy that he repeatedly plunged his armies into uncertain, seemingly desperate situations, only to emerge victorious as he "blundered" to glory.

Includes maps of: Siege of Toulon, SEP-DEC 1793; Locale of the Whiff of Grapeshot, 5 OCT 1795; Napoleon Drives apart the Piedmontese and Austrians, APR-MAY 1796; Wurmser's Approach and the Battle of Lonato, 28 JUL-3 AUG 1796; Battle of Castiglione, 5 AUG 1796; Wurmser Tries Again, 2-15 SEP 1796; Alvinczy's First Advance and the Battle of Caldiero, 12 NOV 1796; Napoleon's End Run to Ronco, 14-15 NOV 1796; Battle of Arcola, 15-17 NOV 1796; Alvinczy Tries Again, JAN 1797; Egyptian Campaign, 1798-1799; Battle of Marengo, 14 JUN 1800; Napoleon's Revised Version of the Battle of Marengo; Ulm Campaign, SEP-OCT 1805; Battle of Austerlitz, 2 DEC 1805; Jena Campaign, 6-12 OCT 1806; Battles of Jena and Auerstadt, 14 OCT 1806; Eylau Campaign, 1-7 FEB 1807; Battle of Eylau, 8 FEB 1807; Battle of Friedland, 14 JUN 1807; Napoleon in Spain, NOV 1808-JAN 1809; Napoleon Loses the Archduke Charles, 19-23 APR 1809; Battle of Aspern-Essling, 21-22 MAY 1809; Eugene's March to Wagram, APR-JUL 1809; Battle of Wagram, 5-6 JUL 1809; Russian Campaign of 1812; Battle of Borodino, 7 SEP 1812; Crossing of the Berezina, 26-29 NOV 1812; Campaign in Germany, 1813; Campaign of France, 1814; Waterloo Campaign - Ligny and Quatre Bras, JUN 1815; Battle of Waterloo, 18 JUN 1815.

Young Bonaparte : character, education, and early triumphs --|t The scrambler emerges : the first Italian campaign, 1796-97 --|t Flirting with oblivion : Egypt, 1798-99 --|t Over the Alps : the second Italian campaign, 1800 --|t The scrambler on the Danube : the Ulm-Austerlitz campaign, 1805 --|t Overkill in the East: the Jena-Auerstadt-Friedland campaign, 1806-07 --|t The "affair of Spain" : the Peninsular War, 1808-1813 --|t The Wagram campaign : the Austrian War, 1809 --|t The fattening : compromises with the old order : European empire, 1809-1812 --|t Heat, ice, snow, and disaster : the Russian campaign, 1812 --|t The kill : from Lutzen to Elba, 1813-14 --|t The glorious irrelevance : the Waterloo campaign, 1815.