Memoirs of General Count Rapp, first aide-de-camp to Napoleon

In these memoirs a young French officer recounts his rapid ascent from the ranks to the personal staff of the Emperor. He describes his first campaigns in Egypt, the moment he first met Napoleon, and the stark contrast between the old aristocracy and the new meritocratic army. The narrative captures the excitement and uncertainty of a career forged in the fire of early Revolutionary wars.

The later chapters offer a front‑row seat to Napoleon’s temperament—his volatile moods, generous clemency, and fierce devotion to family—while the author witnesses decisive battles such as Ulm, Austerlitz and Jena. Interspersed with diplomatic errands, prison intercessions, and vivid battlefield anecdotes, the memoir paints a nuanced portrait of the Emperor as both a brilliant strategist and a demanding commander. For listeners, the work provides a rare, personal perspective on the early triumphs and inner workings of the Napoleonic era.