Before reading this book, I had no idea how little I knew about Napoleon Bonaparte. As such, I found Philip Dwyer's study of Napoleon's rise to power wholly fascinating. The man that emerges from these biographical pages is just that, a man. Dwyer does a wonderful job of separating him from the myth, and I was surprised at just how human the Little General was in his youth and young adulthood. A competent military strategist, Napoleon's true genius is revealed by his unprecedented use of the press, specifically the written and illustrated word, to build a cult of personality to cast himself in the image of conquering hero and the born leader of men the people wanted.

Some readers may not even realize that Napoleon was not French but Corsican. Dwyer necessarily spends a lot of time describing the chaos of Corsican history at this time, particularly in terms of its incorporation into the French empire and the political winds that blew to and fro in the chaotic years of Napoleon's youth. Perhaps more surprisingly, Napoleon's early political ambitions revolved around his family, particularly his brother, who was seen as the rising political star. It was only after the tides of fortune turned against his brother in Corsica that he began focusing on his own possible successes. These formative years are crucial to understanding Napoleon's political mindset, for it was here that his development as an opportunist rather than a devoted ideologue began.

One thinks of Napoleon's ascension to power as a sort of historical inevitability, but such was clearly not the case. In fact, one could argue that Napoleon truly didn't internalize his pursuit of power until the Egyptian campaign, when he was finally forced to confront the truth of Josephine's infidelities. His successes in the Italian campaign can be seen as an attempt to impress her. It's almost embarrassing to read his lovesick letters to Josephine in these early years of their marriage, as her coolness and unfaithfulness simply emasculate this up-and-coming warrior as he pines for her out on the battlefield. Sometimes driven to the very depths of despair, such inherent weakness belies the image that Napoleon was building for himself as a military hero and leader of men.

Greatly exaggerating his military successes while minimizing his losses and setbacks, Napoleon gradually separated himself from the revolutionary government in Paris. As his carefully cultivated image made him a legend to the French people, the Directory proved increasingly ineffectual at controlling this brilliant young general from establishing his own political as well as military autonomy. Here was the wellspring of Napoleon's true ambition, one which would carry him to the heights of power.

Dwyer is eminently successful at separating Napoleon the man from the legend and revealing the very human qualities -- both good and bad -- that defined him. Napoleon: The Path to Power, 1769-1799 is an immensely rewarding work of history and biography, and one cannot help but highly anticipate the upcoming sequel, Napoleon: The Universal Monarchy, 1800-1821.