Max Gallo

On 15 May 1779, the second son of a prominent but impecunious Corsican family arrives at the gates of a royal military school at Brienne in the east of France. Not yet 10 years old, he barely speaks French. A fierce patriot, even at such a young age, French for him is the language of the oppressor - in 1769 France …

It is 1806 and Napoleon is master of an empire covering half of Europe. He subdues kings, conquers woman, and defies the Pope himself over the Continental Blockade. In this dazzling mix of history and creativity, Max Gallo brilliantly recreates the most pivotal and turbulent years of the Little Corporal's reign, …

Napoleon is thirty years old in November 1799, and about to lead France into a new century as First Consul. At Notre Dame in five years he will be crowned Emperor of France, and Josephine his Empress. In this brilliant combination of history and imagination, Max Gallo takes us from the first day after Napoleon's …