Œuvres de Napoléon Bonaparte, Tome III.

In this volume of Napoleon’s own papers, the French commander’s voice comes through in a series of candid dispatches from the Camp of Mount Carmel in early 1799. The letters reveal him juggling the logistics of feeding an army—requesting rice, biscuits, and wheat—while coordinating movements of ships and troops across the Mediterranean. He also details skirmishes with local cavalry and the strategic importance of ports such as Acre and Jaffa, offering a vivid glimpse of the day‑to‑day pressures of a campaign far from home.

Interspersed with the operational notes are proclamations addressed to the diverse inhabitants of the region, where Napoleon positions himself as both stern ruler and merciful protector. These missives showcase his diplomatic calculations, his attempts to win over Muslim leaders, and his rhetorical use of religious language to legitimize French authority. Listeners will hear the raw immediacy of a leader shaping events on the ground, making the collection an intimate portrait of military ambition and political maneuvering.