
audiobook
by Louis Antoine Fauvelet de Bourrienne
This etext was produced by David Widger
LONDON, 1836. - PREFACE - BY THE EDITOR OF THE 1885 EDITION.
R. W. P. - AUTHOR'S INTRODUCTION.
FAUVELET DE BOURRIENNE - NOTE.
CHAPTER 1
NOTE.
BONAPARTE, GENERAL-IN-CHIEF OF THE ARMY OF ITALY.
These memoirs bring listeners into the inner circle of one of history’s most studied leaders, as recounted by his former private secretary. From their school days at Brienne through the early Italian campaigns, the narrative captures the ambition, temperament, and day‑to‑day routines of the young general. The author blends official documents with personal observations, offering a rare mix of political detail and domestic vignette.
Bourrienne’s eye for detail reveals Napoleon in night‑gown and slippers, his temperamental bursts, and his quiet moments of calculation. Because the writer was both confidant and administrator, the account includes candid anecdotes that illuminate decisions behind famous battles without becoming a dry military report. Listeners will hear a vivid portrait that feels as intimate as a conversation with a close friend, making the rise of an empire feel personal and immediate.
Language
en
Duration
~2 hours (168K characters)
Release date
2002-12-01
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1769–1834
Best known as Napoleon Bonaparte’s former secretary, this French diplomat left behind lively memoirs that helped shape how later readers imagined the First Empire. His firsthand stories are fascinating, even if historians have long treated some of them with caution.
View all books