First published in 1831, this book contains the complete memoirs of Louis-Antoine Fauvelet de Bourrienne (1769—1834), a French diplomat who worked as secretary to Napoleon Bonaparte. In his memoirs, Bourrienne provides an intimate and vivid account of his contact with Napoleon and many close to him including his mother, siblings, his first wife Joséphine de Beauharnais, and other notable politicians and eminent people. A fascinating insight into the life and mind of one of France's most famous historical figures not to be missed by those with an interest in European history. Napoléon Bonaparte (1769–1821) was a French political and military leader during the Revolutionary Wars who ruled as Emperor of the French from 1804 until 1814, and again in 1815. Winning the vast amount of battles against a series of coalitions in the Napoleonic Wars, he was able to establish a large empire covering continental Europe that lasted until its collapse in 1815. Napoléon is regarded as being among the greatest military commanders in history, and is still a celebrated yet controversial political figure. Contents include: “Volume I, 1769–1800”, “Volume II, 1800–1803”, “Volume III, 1805–1814”, and “Volume IV, 1814–1821”. Read & Co. History is proudly republishing these classic memoirs now in a new edition complete with an introductory chapter by Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Louis Antoine Fauvelet de Bourrienne's 'The Memoirs of Napoleon Bonaparte' is a comprehensive and insightful exploration of the life and career of one of history's most controversial figures. Written in a detailed and engaging style, Bourrienne's work provides a firsthand account of Napoleon's rise to power, his military campaigns, and his eventual downfall. The literary context of the book is significant as it offers a unique perspective on Napoleon's reign, shedding light on both his strategic genius and his personal flaws. Bourrienne's writing is both informative and captivating, making it a valuable resource for scholars and history enthusiasts alike. As a close personal friend and confidant of Napoleon Bonaparte, Louis Antoine Fauvelet de Bourrienne brings a level of intimacy and insight to the narrative that few other authors possess. His firsthand experiences with Napoleon give the book a sense of authenticity and credibility, offering readers a glimpse into the mind of one of history's most enigmatic figures. Bourrienne's deep understanding of Napoleon's character and motivations shines through in his writing, making 'The Memoirs of Napoleon Bonaparte' a compelling and essential read for anyone interested in the life and legacy of the French Emperor. I highly recommend 'The Memoirs of Napoleon Bonaparte' to readers interested in delving deeper into the complex and fascinating world of Napoleonic history. Bourrienne's meticulous research and firsthand accounts make this book a valuable addition to any historical library, offering a unique perspective on one of the most influential figures of the 19th century.

Louis Antoine Fauvelet de Bourrienne (1769-1834), French diplomat, was born at Sens. He was educated at the military school of Brienne in Champagne along with Napoleon Bonaparte. Leaving Brienne in 1787, and conceiving a distaste for the army, Bourrienne proceeded to Vienna. He was pursuing legal and diplomatic studies there, and afterwards at Leipzig, when the French Revolution broke out. Not until the spring of 1792 did Bourrienne return to France; at Paris he renewed his acquaintance with Bonaparte. They led a Bohemian life together, witnessing the mobbing of the royal family in the Tuileries and the overthrow of the Swiss Guards at the same spot. In 1798 he accompanied Bonaparte to Egypt as his private secretary. He remained by the side of the First Consul in his former capacity, but in the autumn of 1802 incurred Bonapartes displeasure because of his very questionable financial dealings. In the spring of 1805 he was sent as French envoy to the free city of Hamburg. His fame rests not upon his achievements or his original works, which are insignificant, but upon his Mmoires (10 vols., 1829-1831), which have been frequently republished and translated.

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In introducing the present edition of M. de Bourrienne's Memoirs to the public we are bound, as Editors, to say a few Words on the subject. Agreeing, however, with Horace Walpole that an editor should not dwell for any length of time on the merits of his author, we shall touch but lightly on this part of the matter. We are the more ready to abstain since the great success in England of the former editions of these Memoirs, and the high reputation they have acquired on the European Continent, and in every part of the civilised world where the fame of Bonaparte has ever reached, sufficiently establish the merits of M. de Bourrienne as a biographer. These merits seem to us to consist chiefly in an anxious desire to be impartial, to point out the defects as well as the merits of a most wonderful man; and in a peculiarly graphic power of relating facts and anecdotes. With this happy faculty Bourrienne would have made the life of almost any active individual interesting; but the subject of which the most favourable circumstances permitted him to treat was full of events and of the most extraordinary facts. The hero of his story was such a being as the world has produced only on the rarest occasions, and the complete counterpart to whom has, probably, never existed; for there are broad shades of difference between Napoleon and Alexander, Caesar, and Charlemagne; neither will modern history furnish more exact parallels, since Gustavus Adolphus, Frederick the Great, Cromwell, Washington, or Bolivar bear but a small resemblance to Bonaparte either in character, fortune, or extent of enterprise. For fourteen years, to say nothing of his projects in the East, the history of Bonaparte was the history of all Europe! With the copious materials he possessed, M. de Bourrienne has produced a work which, for deep interest, excitement, and amusement, can scarcely be paralleled by any of the numerous and excellent memoirs for which the literature of France is so justly celebrated. M. de Bourrienne shows us the hero of Marengo and Austerlitz in his night-gown and slippers—with a 'trait de plume' he, in a hundred instances, places the real man before us, with all his personal habits and peculiarities of manner, temper, and conversation. The friendship between Bonaparte and Bourrienne began in boyhood, at the school of Brienne, and their unreserved intimacy continued during the most brilliant part of Napoleon's career. We have said enough, the motives for his writing this work and his competency for the task will be best explained in M. de Bourrienne's own words, which the reader will find in the Introductory Chapter. M. de Bourrienne says little of Napoleon after his first abdication and retirement to Elba in 1814: we have endeavoured to fill up the chasm thus left by following his hero through the remaining seven years of his life, to the "last scenes of all" that ended his "strange, eventful history,"—to his deathbed and alien grave at St. Helena. A completeness will thus be given to the work which it did not before possess, and which we hope will, with the other additions and improvements already alluded to, tend to give it a place in every well-selected library, as one of the most satisfactory of all the lives of Napoleon. LONDON, 1836.

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