Review of "A Brush with Napoleon: An Encounter with Jacques-Louis David" by Laban Hill

European history gets short shrift in American classrooms, so books like this are a cultural blessing as well as a welcome change of pace from standard history books. This author tells the story of a fifteen year-old youth whose idealistic notions of the Emperor Bonaparte are severely tested as he learns the real story behind Jacques Louis-David's famous portrait 'Bonaparte' Crossing The Alps At Grand Saint-Bernard'. Okay, we've all been burned by the 'makes learning fun' tease, but this time the risk is worth taking. Its a coming of age story with romance and history all rolled into one engaging story.