Napoleon Bonaparte-his life as a soldierWhile a pupil at military school Napoleon wrote to his mother that to carve his way in the world all he required was a copy of Homer and a sword. The die was cast-a ten year old boy was determined to follow the life of a soldier. Over the next thirty five years the boy would rise to army officer, general, consul and emperor of France. He would become, arguably, the most renowned soldier the world has ever known. This unique man personally commanded in 600 skirmishes and 85 full scale battles before his final defeat at Waterloo. To put Napoleon's military career in clear perspective it should be noted that he spent just 6 weeks less on campaign or under fire than he did in at the seat of power or involved in his personal life. There have been many books written about Napoleon Bonaparte but this one deals exclusively with his military career and takes the reader to from the Italian Campaign to Egypt, through pivotal battles such as Jena and Eylau, to the Iberian peninsula, the disastrous invasion of Russia, the times of retreat and defeat and the final battles 1815. Interestingly, this is a book full of anecdotes for it is the authors assertion that it is through the reports, recollections and memoirs of those who knew Napoleon and served with him that the great man's character is most clearly revealed. Certainly these many perspectives on the campaigns of the Napoleonic epoch, full of dialogue and incident, make entertaining reading. An interesting book for all those fascinated by the 'Little Corporal,' the military genius who, as the author of this book writes, 'held Europe prisoner in the folds of the French flag.' This book was originally published under the title, 'Military Career of Napoleon the Great.'Leonaur editions are newly typeset and are not facsimiles; each title is available in softcover and hardback with dustjacket.