Here is a book with an unhelpful title. This is a book about 'biohistory' which is to say, it's about how humans and microbes (for the most part) have interacted over the centuries and millenia since humans started their bipedal experiment. It's a little dated these days, but is still an entertaining read. I particularly enjoyed Karlen's depiction of how disease influenced the outcome of various wars, and how this is ignored by historians in general. Also, he talks extensively about lead poisoning and how it is almost obsessively ignored by historians and medical doctors. I give it: ( )

This is an unusual book, about biohistory, in which some writers attempt to integrate the personal health of historical figures and their actions. Despite the title, the aim of the book stretches beyond simply Napoleon as the author examines other well-known biohistory issues.

Napoleon, although it was widely known that he had suffered from physical ailments his entire life (it appears to be the scratching disease, scabies, Napoleon's Glands, Arno Karlen, p. 7), had nonetheless a legendary reputation for work; yet, he succumbed at the relatively young age of 51 thus at the very least his death should raise questions.