Napoleon's road to glory : triumphs, defeats & immortality /

Adult/High School-This easy read is fast paced, covers all the important facts, and is so well organized that it could be used as a general reference book. It is not a military history-campaigns and battles are covered only briefly. The focus is on how Napoleon came to power; how he ruled; and his long-term, nonmilitary achievements, such as the Code Napoleon, reforming the education system, and rebuilding the French economic infrastructure. The author does not avoid the many controversies that have surrounded the man, nor does he gloss over Napoleon's blunders. One section is devoted to his three major mistakes: the closing of the European markets to Great Britain, the invasion and subsequent quagmire in Spain, and the disastrous 1812 invasion of Russia. Markham also turns a critical eye toward the errors made during the Waterloo campaign. The book ends with a brief look at Napoleon's exile on Saint Helena that addresses his treatment by the British and provides updated information on whether or not he was murdered. The chapters are relatively short and packed with relevant information, and each one provides a superb summary of salient points. Those looking for a quick reference book will be pleased by the logical organization and detailed index, both of which permit readers to find information quickly.-Robert Burnham, R. E. Lee High School, Springfield, VA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.