Napoleon was the colossus of his age. He rose to become one of Revolutionary France's most successful generals, before being crowned Emperor in December 1804. Over the next eight years he fought a series of campaigns, defeating all his continental rivals, though his inability to take command of the sea prevented him from beating Britain. This authoritative book tells the story of the Napoleonic Wars, bringing them to life as never before with eight items of rare facsimile memorabilia, which have been specially researched from museum collections around the world.