Mémoires du maréchal Marmont, duc de Raguse (1/9)

Through the eyes of a seasoned French marshal, these memoirs trace a life that began in provincial France and surged into the turmoil of the Revolution. Preserved from the author's handwritten notes, the narrative offers unfiltered commentary on the events and personalities that shaped a nation, backed by letters and official documents that lend immediacy. Listeners will hear a voice that balances personal pride with measured impartiality, revealing the complexities of ambition and duty in a rapidly changing world.

The early chapters follow the young Marmont’s entry into artillery school, his first posting with the 1st Artillery Regiment, and the fierce fighting at Toulon where he first met the rising Bonaparte. He describes the chaotic streets of Paris after the Terror, the shifting alliances of the Directory, and the daring campaigns of Loano on the Italian frontier, noting his doubts and the camaraderie among officers. These recollections offer a vivid portrait of a generation caught between revolutionary fervor and the dawning of empire.