From a gladiator to a renegade conquistador to England's greatest warrior-king―six men who changed the course of history. In the history of warfare, an elite group of men have attained legendary status through their courage, ambition, and unrivaled military genius. In Heroes and Villains, acclaimed historian Frank McLynn focuses on six of the most powerful and magnetic leaders of all time, brilliantly evoking the critical moments when each of these warriors proved his mettle in battle, changing their own lives, the destiny of their people, and in some cases, the history of the world. We discover what drove Spartacus to take on the might of Rome against seemingly impossible odds, and how the young Napoleon rose to power in dramatic fashion at the siege of Toulon. Heroes and Villains is more than a collection of individual biographies. By examining the complex psychologies of these extraordinary men, McLynn builds up a convincing profile of the ultimate warrior. 12 black-and-white illustrations