Louis Antoine Fauvelet de Bourrienne
Louis Antoine Fauvelet de Bourrienne was a French diplomat and memoirist, best known for his intimate association with Napoleon Bonaparte. Born in Sens, Bourrienne's early life was marked by his education and subsequent entry into the diplomatic service, where he quickly gained prominence. His close relationship with Napoleon began when he served as the Emperor's private secretary, providing him with unique insights into the personal and political life of one of history's most significant figures. Bourrienne's most notable work, 'Memoirs of Napoleon,' offers a detailed and often candid portrayal of Napoleon's character and the events of his reign. This memoir stands out not only for its firsthand perspective but also for its blend of personal anecdotes and historical narrative, making it a valuable resource for understanding the complexities of the Napoleonic era. Bourrienne's writings have been both praised for their vivid detail and critiqued for their potential biases, reflecting the tumultuous nature of his relationship with Napoleon and the political landscape of the time. His legacy endures as a key figure in the documentation of Napoleonic history, providing future generations with a glimpse into the life and mind of one of history's most enigmatic leaders.
Famous Quotes
View all 2 quotes“and we should have seen perish on the scaffold, at the age of twenty-five, the man who, during the twenty-five succeeding years, was destined to astonish the world by his vast conceptions, his gigantic projects, his great military genius, his extraordinary good fortune, his faults, reverses, and final misfortunes.”
“In his first Italian campaign he wrote thus to General Clarke: "That ambition and the occupation of high offices were not sufficient for his satisfaction and happiness, which he had early placed in the opinion of Europe and the esteem of posterity." He often observed to me that with him the opinion of posterity was the real immortality of the soul. It”
