Nicholls David. Napoleon: A Biographical Companion

ABC-Clio, 1999. — 318 p.This illustrated A–Z encyclopedia provides easy access to information about the emperor Napoleon. Over 300 entries cover significant events, people, and other topics such as the principal Napoleonic campaigns, all the major battles including Waterloo and Austerlitz, Napoleon's most important generals and marshals, Josephine de Beauharnais, and the Napoleonic Code. Napoleon also includes primary source documents, a handy chronology of key events, a bibliography, and an index.
Some 200 years ago, when Napoleon Bonaparte proclaimed of himself, "I am not a man, I am a historical figure," he probably suspected the profound influence his life and deeds would have on Europe's society, culture, government, and military history. Now, in one massive volume, Nicholls scholar, university lecturer, and historian of the Napoleonic era addresses all aspects of Napoleon as a soldier, politician, administrator, emperor, and revolutionary, including the people, places, and events he affected directly or indirectly. The 343 A-to-Z entries cover everything from well-known biographical data, battles, and personalities to more obscure entries covering Napoleon's scandalous sister Pauline, the Opera Plot assassination attempt, and the wacky Malet Conspiracy. The entries are short and concise, but each also identifies related entries and offers scholarly suggestions for further reading. Complemented nicely by Napoleonic documents, a chronology, and a comprehensive bibliography, this polished and well-constructed effort will serve as an easy-to-use reference for students