Young bloods

The first in an ambitious and highly commercial quartet of novels focusing on two giants of European history, Wellington and Napoleon Europe in the late eighteenth century was a tumultuous place, with war and rebellions breaking out on many fronts.

Young Arthur Wesley (later Wellington) and Napoleon Bonaparte grow up worlds apart yet immersed from youth in a culture where a military career is a natural choice for men of ambition.

While Wellington is blooded in Ireland and Flanders, Napoleon is caught up in the dramas of the French Revolution and war with Prussia, Britain and Holland.

None of this is enough to distract Wellington from his pursuit of Kitty Pakenham or Napoleon from his future bride, Josephine, for these men throw themselves into all aspects of life as enthusiastically as they rush to battle.

A wonderful, multi-layered introduction to an epic series.