Pratt tells the story of Consular France - according to Napoleon himself, his greatest creation - the foundation for a society, which, if it had been more truly embraced, might have led Europe away from two world wars.
Twice during this period, the soon to be emperor proposed comprehensive peace - twice England insisted that the restoration of the Bourbon's was the price.
The Terrors followed, but a prostrate France was rebuilt on the vision of one of the great geniuses of all time. 
Pratt intersperses his narrative with excerpts from an American newspaper, diary observations, allowing voices from that time to speak for themselves.