Napoleon: A Very Short Introduction

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 A. 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 Napoleon represented. By his late twenti...