John Codman Ropes was not only a lawyer of the first order, but also a military history of great note. Intimately involved in supporting troops from his native Massachusetts in the American Civil War (he could not serve directly himself due to a childhood illness), he later diligently collected information on this conflict to produce the excellent "The Army under Pope" and the unfinished "Story of the Civil War". He was the driving force of the Military Historical Society of Massachusetts, whose members included large numbers of service men, notably General Hancock. From his wealth of expertise and knowledge, he produced two volumes on the Napoleonic period as well, both of which have gone on to become standard works. This volume details the outline of the startling career of Napoleon Bonaparte, from his noble but humble beginnings in Corsica to the heights of his power as Emperor of the French, and to his eventual demise in exile at St. Helena. Free from any of the rancorous or jingoistic undertones found in works emanating from the European belligerent nations such as France or England, the text is clear, lucid and entertaining. Despite being a "Sketch", it covers all the major areas of Napoleon's life, including his military, personal and political achievements that defined the policy in Europe for over a decade. Warmly recommended to a novice of the subject as well as an experienced Napoleonic campaigner.
