The Battle of Waterloo, which was fought just one hundred years ago and with which the story in this book ends, is popularly regarded as one of the decisive battles of the world, particularly with reference to the career of the greatest of all Captains.

Personally some study has led me to believe that Bautzen was really the decisive battle of the Napoleonic wars.

If the Emperor had there won the overwhelming victory to which his combinations and the fortunes of war entitled him he would still have retained his Empire.

Whether he would have been satisfied or not is another question; and anyway as I am practically alone among students and critics in my opinions about Bautzen they can be dismissed.

And that he lost that battle was his own fault anyway! However Napoleon's genius cannot be denied any more than his failure.
In this book I have sought to show him at his best and also almost at his worst.