Book excerpt: Napoleon Bonaparte's ascent to power was meteoric. Ever the outsider and regarded by many as an upstart, his extraordinary determination, courage, and tactical skill saw him rise from ordinary beginnings to become the greatest military commander of his age. A brigadier general by the age of 24, crowned Emperor of France by age 35, he had conquered most of the countries of Europe by the time he was 45. This beautifully illustrated, silk-bound edition of Napoleon's maxims for conduct on the battlefield gives a fascinating insight into his knowledge, intuition, and resourcefulness. His ideas have shaped the opinion of generations of military strategists, politicians, and business entrepreneurs, and are still relevant today. The translation, by British army officer Colonel George D'Aguilar, contains notes exploring the background to Napoleon's theories of war and the leaders who inspired him. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Arcturus Silkbound Classics series brings together deluxe gift editions of literary classics, presented with luxurious silk binding, striking embossed cover designs and full-color illustrations.