Memoirs of Napoleon Bonaparte [4-volume set]

Bourrienne was an official in the Directory, and served as Secretary to Napoleon. Unblushing admirer of NB although an "utter stranger to the noble profession of arms" and quite aware that NB surrounded himself by flatterers. [449][323]
In 1799, NB created the "Consulship" for himself and acceded to the power of the five Directors. France hailed this reduction as with one voice. [304] The public reposed great hopes in a change from the chaos, not to mention the bloodshed, of the previous administration.
So often, however, clear signs of predation are overlooked -- it was well-known that NB ordered unarmed prisoners to be executed without reason in the seige of Jaffa in which in enjoyed absolute authority and bears full responsibility. show more [203] It is difficult to understand why the public is so often confused by the difference between a predator and a redeemer.
Bourrienne accurately refutes the British hysteria over the bloodshed of the Revolution. He comes up with numbers (which may be inaccurate) of more than 60,000 Huegenots killed in the previous century, and perhaps a million French people dislocated in the purges. The Revolution was terrible, but it only took the lives of a few ten thousands. And within ten years, land reform policy and liberation of serfs defeated perpetual famine, and created the most robust middle class in the world. Yet Bourrienne overlooks this progress made by the Revolution as he fully adopts the view that France adored Napoleon as a savior saving the nation from chaos and dysfunction. Its Revolution had created the strongest and most prosperous nation on the planet, in spite of, or because of, the dysfunction of a criminal crowd of royalists!
Bourrienne shows the genius of Napoleon. It is the unrelenting ability to subordinate everyone around him. Bourrienne provides examples of different techniques used. He documents how Napoleon systematically usurped the ideas and accomplishments of a brilliant people.
As for Napoleon's writing--in his own Memoirs-- it is nakedly self-centered, to a point one realizes it is pitiable. Bourrienne is an authoritative but not unbiased biographer, standing within Napoleon's circle as his doctor. He does show he distanced himself after the first exilation of the Beast. My favorite of the biographers remains the insightful Emil Ludwig. He too read the actual Memoirs, and spares us. show less

"But here are the three volumes of the physician Bourrienne — that Bourrienne who knew him so well. Does
any one ever know a man so well as his doctor? They are quite excellent and admirably translated." --Through the Magic Door, pg. 196

19th century, marbled boards. Vol I and II have spine damage but III and IV are okay.