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Quick answer: The best books on Napoleon cover his rise, his wars and his fall. Start with Napoleon: A Life by Andrew Roberts, Napoleon: A Concise Biography by David A. Bell, The Campaigns of Napoleon by David G. Chandler, 1812 by Adam Zamoyski, Waterloo by Bernard Cornwell and Tolstoy’s War and Peace.
Napoleon Bonaparte was born on Corsica in 1769, rose through the army during the French Revolution and seized power in 1799. He crowned himself emperor in 1804, conquered much of Europe, created the Napoleonic Code that still shapes laws around the world, and lost almost everything in the disastrous invasion of Russia in 1812. After a dramatic return from exile in 1815, he was finally defeated at Waterloo and died on the island of St. Helena in 1821. Few people in history have been so admired and so hated. The books below include the best biographies, military histories, books on his rivals and the great novels he inspired.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Type | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Napoleon: A Life | Andrew Roberts | Biography | The best modern biography |
| Napoleon: A Concise Biography | David A. Bell | Short biography | A quick overview |
| Napoleon: The Path to Power | Philip Dwyer | Biography | A critical view |
| The Campaigns of Napoleon | David G. Chandler | Military history | Military buffs |
| 1812: Napoleon’s Fatal March on Moscow | Adam Zamoyski | Narrative history | The Russian disaster |
| Russia Against Napoleon | Dominic Lieven | History | The Russian side |
| The Napoleonic Wars: A Global History | Alexander Mikaberidze | History | The global picture |
| Waterloo | Bernard Cornwell | Narrative history | The final battle |
| Josephine | Andrea Stuart | Biography | Napoleon’s empress |
| War and Peace | Leo Tolstoy | Classic novel | Ambitious readers |
| Sharpe’s Eagle | Bernard Cornwell | Historical novel | Action lovers |
| Désirée | Annemarie Selinko | Historical novel | Romantic fiction |
| Napoleon’s Pyramids | William Dietrich | Adventure novel | Fans of historical thrillers |
| Napoleon’s Last Island | Thomas Keneally | Historical novel | Literary fiction fans |
| The Count of Monte Cristo | Alexandre Dumas | Classic novel | Adventure lovers |
1. Napoleon: A Life by Andrew Roberts
Roberts used Napoleon’s 33,000 recently published letters to write a lively, admiring biography. It’s long, gripping and the most popular modern life.
2. Napoleon: A Concise Biography by David A. Bell
Bell, a leading historian of France, tells Napoleon’s whole story in about 150 pages. It’s balanced and elegant.
3. Napoleon: The Path to Power by Philip Dwyer
The first volume of Dwyer’s biography follows Napoleon’s rise and shows how carefully he shaped his own legend. It’s sharp and well researched.
4. The Campaigns of Napoleon by David G. Chandler
Chandler’s classic analyzes every campaign Napoleon fought. It’s huge and detailed, the standard work on Napoleon as a general.
5. 1812: Napoleon’s Fatal March on Moscow by Adam Zamoyski
Zamoyski tells the story of the invasion of Russia, in which most of Napoleon’s huge army was lost. It’s harrowing and gripping.
6. Russia Against Napoleon by Dominic Lieven
Lieven shows how Russia’s army and leaders defeated Napoleon and pursued him to Paris. It changes how you see the whole war.
7. The Napoleonic Wars: A Global History by Alexander Mikaberidze
Mikaberidze shows that the Napoleonic Wars were fought around the world, from Egypt to South America. It’s ambitious and eye-opening.
8. Waterloo by Bernard Cornwell
The author of the Sharpe novels tells the story of the Battle of Waterloo in vivid, readable nonfiction. It’s a great introduction.
9. Josephine by Andrea Stuart
Stuart tells the story of Josephine, from Martinique to the imperial throne. It’s a rich portrait of a remarkable woman.
10. War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
Tolstoy’s masterpiece follows Russian families through Napoleon’s invasion in 1812. It’s long but one of the greatest novels ever written.
11. Sharpe’s Eagle by Bernard Cornwell
Richard Sharpe, a British rifleman, fights Napoleon’s armies in Spain. It’s a fast-paced adventure and a great entry into the series.
12. Désirée by Annemarie Selinko
This bestseller tells the story of Désirée Clary, Napoleon’s first fiancée, who became queen of Sweden. It’s charming and romantic.
13. Napoleon’s Pyramids by William Dietrich
An American adventurer joins Napoleon’s 1798 expedition to Egypt and gets caught up in a mystery. It’s fun and fast.
14. Napoleon’s Last Island by Thomas Keneally
Keneally imagines Napoleon’s exile on St. Helena through the eyes of a teenage girl who befriended him. It’s based on a real friendship.
15. The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
Dumas’s revenge epic begins in 1815, when a young sailor is arrested for carrying a letter connected to the exiled Napoleon. It’s a thrilling classic.
Tips for Reading About Napoleon
- Start short. David Bell’s concise biography gives you the outline.
- Then read Roberts. His biography is long but compelling.
- Read a critical view too. Dwyer balances Roberts’s admiration.
- Use maps. His campaigns cover all of Europe.
- Read about 1812. The Russian campaign is one of history’s great disasters.
- Try a novel. War and Peace or Sharpe brings the era to life.
Related: best books on the French Revolution and best books on the Romanovs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best biography of Napoleon?
Napoleon: A Life by Andrew Roberts is the most popular modern biography, and Napoleon: A Concise Biography by David A. Bell is the best short one.
What is the best book about Napoleon’s invasion of Russia?
1812: Napoleon’s Fatal March on Moscow by Adam Zamoyski is the most gripping account, and Russia Against Napoleon by Dominic Lieven tells the Russian side.
What is the best novel about Napoleon?
War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy is the great classic, and the Sharpe novels by Bernard Cornwell are popular adventures.