The Big Idea
Napoleon Bonaparte might have rewritten the map of Europe, but these private letters reveal a man frequently held hostage by his own affections. Writing from muddy bivouacs in Italy and grand palaces in Poland, he oscillates between the raw passion of a young general and the weary commands of a seasoned Emperor. While he is busy capturing 160,000 English muskets at Koenigsberg or negotiating the Peace of Tilsit, he finds time to chide Josephine for her tears, her lack of fortitude, and her habit of distrusting his destiny. The collection tracks their evolution from obsessive newlyweds to a divorced pair bound by a strange, enduring political and personal loyalty.
Who's named
- Napoleon
General, First Consul, and Emperor who conquered much of Europe.
- Josephine
Empress of the French and primary recipient of the correspondence.
- Wurmser
Austrian general hemmed in by Napoleon at Mantua.
- Eugene
Josephine's son and Napoleon's trusted military commander.
What it's really about
- The Burden of Rank
- Balancing domestic affection with the extreme circumspection required of a commander.
- Martial Fortitude
- Napoleon's demand that his wife show strength equal to his victories.
Why it's memorable
- Napoleon nearly being captured alone during a skirmish at Cerea while writing to his wife.
- The Emperor complaining about the length of winter nights in Warsaw while awaiting military events.
What it concludes
The correspondence demonstrates that even at the height of imperial power, the Emperor remained psychologically tethered to the woman he eventually set aside for reasons of state.
For your book club
- Do the letters suggest Napoleon was more vulnerable in Italy or as an established Emperor?
- How does Napoleon’s tone change when he addresses Josephine after his marriage to Marie Louise?