A comparative study of nine leaders who guided their nations through the greatest wars humanity has known, shaping the course of History with their unique abilities but also their weaknesses. From the French Revolution to the Cold War, Andrew Roberts presents a fresh and deeply insightful approach to nine defining figures of modern History: Napoleon Bonaparte, Horatio Nelson, Winston Churchill, Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin, George Marshall, Charles de Gaulle, Dwight Eisenhower, and Margaret Thatcher.

Each of these leaders significantly influenced the outcome of the war in which their nation was involved. Is their wartime strategy truly unique, or do these particular leaders share common traits and techniques that transcend time and place, and can be applied to the essential nature of any conflict?

War Leadership, based on thorough research and with stunning writing, presents readers with fresh and complex portraits of leaders who approached war with different tactics and weapons, but with a common goal of success on the battlefield. Portraits that inspire and at the same time warn, offering significant lessons in leadership during times of conflict, anxiety, and disagreement.

With his characteristic vigor and penetrating gaze, Roberts reveals the elements that can condemn even the most promising leaders to failure, as well as the values that lead to victory.