'One of the year's best biographies.A compelling portrait of one of history's greatest figures.' Catherine Lockerbie, Scotsman 'McLynn writes with considerable verve: his pithy characterisations of Napoleon's subordinates, the alternating chapters of narrative and analysis, and dramatic set pieces.all these combine to make his biography pleasurable and instructive to read.' Brendan Simms, Evening Standard 'McLynn offers an admirably clear narrative, neither adulatOry nor debunking. Napoleon the man emerges as an even more fascinating character than previously imagined, and McLynn brilliantly reveals the extent ro which he was both existential hero and plaything of Fate mathematician and mystic intellectual giant and moral pygmy Great Man and deeply Aawed human being. Tracing Napoleon's extraordinary career, McLynn examines the Promethean legend from the Corsican roots, through the years of the French Revolution and the m i litary triumphs, to the coronation in 1804 and ultimate defeat and imprisonment.

In this compelling new biography Frank McLynn draws on the most recent scholarship and throws a brilliant light on this most paradoxical of men - as military leader, lover and emperor.

'A brilliant biography which will surely become a classic life of Napoleon.' Lawrence James, The Times Napoleon Bonaparte's character and achievements have always divided critics and commentators.

Napoleon a biography by frank mclynn