Customer Reviews

In Napoleon's Shadow: Being the First English Language Edition of the Complete Memoirs of Louis-Joseph Marchand, Valet and Friend of the Emperor, 1811-1821

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Along with General Bertrand's memoirs, Louis-Joseph Marchand's memoirs are the best account of the Emperor Napoleon's exile in St. Helena. Serving as valet to Napoleon, Marchand traces the path of the Emperor from his apogee to his first exile in Elba and later exile on St. Helena. Marchand's intimate acquaintance with the Emperor dates from his service on Elba. The tragic details of the Hundred Days and the flight from France after Waterloo are recounted in a simple style that makes for effortless reading.

The bulk of the narrative takes place in St. Helena. Marchand introduces us to the private chambers of the Emperor. We get to see how the exiles viewed their day-to-day existence as well as their reaction to the various efforts of their British jailers to enforce order at Longwood (Napoleon's home on St. Helena).

I would recommend this book to any Napoleonic scholar. The nature of this work requires some prior knowledge of Napoleon and his career; however, the book features extensive footnotes that illuminate the history of even the most obscure persons referenced. All in all, a wonderful work by Marchand--valet and friend of Napoleon.

The lost memoirs by Marchand are important historically as they set the scene for Napoleon's demise, with multiple conspiracy theories.
The problem is that these memoirs are really truly boring. For those who cannot sleep, read this book.