Follows Napoleon Bonaparte from his origins as a lowly soldier to his rise to military power and his conquest of Europe. Grade 8-12-- An outstanding book about Napoleon and his era. As the title indicates, Marrin--while not neglecting Napoleon's other accomplishments--focuses on his subject's military genius, with thorough descriptions of weapons, campaigns, battles, and opponents such as Nelson and Wellington. He gives a balanced analysis of Napoleon, does an excellent job of putting things in context, and provides a wealth of detail. Marrin's study is truly fascinating, not merely educational; it should become the definitive work on this period of French history. McGuire's Napoleon (Chelsea, 1986; o.p.), while adequate, is less challenging and less interesting. --Ann W. Moore, formerly at Lane Road Library, Columbus, OH Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.