New Introduction by Philip Haythornthwaite A superb insight into the mind of Napoleon Draws on Napoleon's own writings and recorded speech A brilliant survey of the Napoleonic Wars through the eyes of Napoleon In the Words of the Emperor is a startling insight into the life and deeds of Napoleon. Derived from Napoleon's extensive correspondence and his other writings and recorded speech, this valuable compilation acts as a diary or journal encompassing the whole of the emperor's life. Napoleon's own words - as recorded on a particular day - are set down as 'entries', and these offer a unique glimpse into the major events of the Napoleonic period. The diary reveals Napoleon's thoughts and actions as his great life unfolded, and throw light on his attitudes to war, politics and the many varied personalities who surrounded - or opposed - him. As entries appear on an almost daily basis, the reader has the opportunity to trace the surging course of events as they happened, and to follow the rise and fall of the French emperor. Philip Haythornthwaite has provided a fascinating Introduction which looks at Napoleon's writings and details the emperor's capacity for unremitting labour.
Philip Haythornthwaite is a respected authority on the British Army of the Napoleonic period, and the author of, among others, The Napoleonic Source Book and The Armies of Wellington. He has also written the text to accompany the collected colour plates of Charles Hamilton Smith to be published as Wellington's Army. R. M. Johnston was a Napoleonic scholar and author of The Napoleonic Empire in Southern Italy.