Mémoires de Constant, premier valet de chambre de l'empereur, sur la vie privée de Napoléon, sa famille et sa cour.

A uniquely intimate portrait emerges from the pages of this memoir, written by the emperor’s own first valet‑de‑chambre. From the early days of the Italian campaign at Marengo to the quiet moments at Fontainebleau, the narrator offers a day‑to‑day view of Napoleon’s private world—his habits, his humor, and the subtle dynamics of his household.

Through vivid anecdotes about the imperial family, the bustling court, and the eclectic characters that surrounded them, listeners hear the whispered jokes of Josephine, the playful rivalry of Hortense, and the behind‑the‑scenes negotiations that shaped decisions. The author’s close proximity lets us glimpse the emperor not as a distant legend but as a man navigating love, ambition, and the pressures of command, all while maintaining the rhythm of his own modest duties.