Simply Napoleon

The soldier who became an emperor and changed Europe forever.

Napoleon Bonaparte rose from a relatively obscure Corsican family to become emperor of France and one of the most powerful figures in European history. In Simply Napoleon, historians J. David Markham and Matthew D. Zarzeczny offer an accessible introduction to the man behind the legend, tracing his extraordinary rise, his military victories, his reforms, and the ambition that ultimately brought his empire crashing down. From the battlefields of Italy and Egypt to Austerlitz, Moscow, Waterloo, and his final exile on Saint Helena, the authors follow Napoleon through the triumphs and failures that defined his career. They also look beyond the battlefield, exploring the Napoleonic Code, his reshaping of government and education, his relationship with Josephine, and the political changes that continued long after his defeat. The result is a lively portrait of a complicated leader whose influence can still be seen across Europe and far beyond.

• An accessible introduction to Napoleon’s life, career, and legacy
• Explores his major military campaigns, victories, and eventual defeat
• Examines Napoleon as a military commander, emperor, reformer, and political leader
• Covers the Napoleonic Code and his lasting influence on government and law
• Separates the historical Napoleon from the myths and legends that grew around him

Available in multiple formats:

Paperback — Elegant print edition presenting the complete, unabridged text, and ships in 3–5 business days.
Hardcover — Elegant print edition presenting the complete, unabridged text, and ships in 5–7 business days.
EPUB — DRM-free, compatible with Kindle, Kobo, Apple Books, and all major e-readers. Instant download after purchase.
Audiobook — Professionally narrated, complete and unabridged. Available on Audible, Spotify, Apple Books.

Brilliant, ambitious, reforming, and ultimately defeated, Napoleon remains one of history’s most fascinating figures. Simply Napoleon offers an accessible introduction to the man and his age, showing how one extraordinary career transformed the political and military landscape of Europe.

About the Authors

J. David Markham is an internationally recognized scholar and writer and the president of the International Napoleonic Society. He has written, edited, and/or contributed to ten books on Napoleon, including Napoleon for Dummies and The Road to St Helena: Napoleon after Waterloo. He has appeared in television documentaries, lectured at conferences and museums around the world, and co-created with Cameron Reilly the popular “Napoleon 101” podcast. In 2014, he was appointed a Knight in the Order of the French Academic Palms, France’s highest civilian-only award. He has also been awarded the INS Legion of Merit and the Napoleonic Historical Society Colonel John H. Etling Scholar Award, the highest academic recognition for the two groups.

Matthew D. Zarzeczny is a Fellow of the International Napoleonic Society and an adjunct instructor at Ashland University, Kent State University at Stark, and John Carroll University. He has written widely on Napoleon Bonaparte and is the author of Meteors That Enlighten the Earth: Napoleon and the Cult of Great Men and the founder of the popular website www.historyandheadlines.com. In Simply Napoleon, Markham and Zarzeczny combine decades of research to offer an engaging, reliable introduction to one of history’s most extraordinary figures.