Suggestions on Two Books

To start I would suggest these British historians on Napoleon as to biographies , ie, general works with the framework of the "Ancien Regime to Waterloo and St Helena....A. Horne, F. Markham (start with this) and A. Roberts.

The classic work on the campaigns and battles is that by the British historian, D. Chandler. Chandler also put together a work on Napoleon's maxims.

If you're looking for Napoleonic historiography written in the 21st century, numerous works among British and American writers have surfaced aside from those by A. Roberts, which I see as essential reading.

If you have a good reading ability in French, even better...you're in luck. Then I heartily recommend Thierry Lentz on Napoleonic military history, ie compare and contrast , say his treatment of Austerlitz and Leipzig with that by D. Chandler.

Some my suggestions may already be well known to you as they are in a way dated historiography (some) but well worth reading as a source for further research on Napoleon.

For a general history for travelers I love From Paris to the Past by Ina Caro.

I'd actually recommend a RS France guidebook, I find he really gets into that stuff and does a good, concise job.

For a short and readable history of France, try John Julius Norwich’s France - from Gaul to de Gaulle. Obviously it doesn’t take the story right to the present day, but it’s an accessible overview of the long sweep of history. Lots of Louis..s.

Andrew Roberts’ Napoleon the Great is a very well-written engaging overview.

I liked Andrew Roberts' Napoleon: A Life, which may or may not be the same book recommended above. It's 800+ pages but pretty readable. Napoleon biographies in English tend to either vilify or (if translated from French) deify him, but Roberts seems to take a balanced view.

I haven't read Robert Cole's A Traveller's History of France, but I thought his Traveller's History of Paris was good. Unlike the Napoleon book, this one meets your brevity test. The historical summaries in Rick Steves' guidebooks are also good, but much less detailed.

Any serious scholarly study of Napoleon has to include the 2 works by Andrew Roberts mentioned above, (I heartily recommend them), that is, if you want to get away from popular history.

Re: "...vilify or deify him. " Which authors or historians? Originally in English or in translation from the French? Who are they?

I know you asked for books but, Prime Video and PBS have some good documentaries/shows on Napoleon.
Whatever you do, do not go see the new Ridley Scott movie called Napoleon. Pure garbage.

A bit earlier than Napoleon but a good prelude - "Citizens, A Chronicle of the French Revolution" by Simon Schama - excellent history, almost novelistic in its approach - very readable.

If you move up to WW2, "Is Paris Burning" by Larry Collins and Dominique Lapierre is a great read while there - the story of the last days of the war - and why Paris did not burn. I read it every time I'm in Paris.

Both are likely available used on Amazon.

I won't dispute that eloquent assessment that the movie is "pure garbage".....c'est super.

I did, however, like the music of the Revolution which I counted to be 4-5, the first song sung by E. Piaf, very appropriate hearing her rendition of "ah, ça ira "

No such luck on Napoleonic songs sung , obviously , in French in this film .