The Memorial of Saint Helena
Encyclopedia
The Memorial of Saint Helena is a collection of memories of Napoleon I of France
written down and edited by Emmanuel, comte de Las Cases
as a result of their almost daily conversations during the former's exile on Saint Helena
. Contrary to a widely-held opinion, the text was not dictated by Napoleon and Las Cases always ensured they were complete and original. It was one of the greatest French literary successes of its era, crystallising regrets about and nostalgia for the First French Empire
and giving rise to the political current of Bonapartism
. In them Napoleon is presented as continuing the French Revolution
, wanting the people's goodwill and thus hated by kings, and an account is given of his campaigns from his youth onwards. Many editions came out during the 19th century, including those in 1822-1823 (original edition), 1824 (additions and corrections to the former edition), 1828 (new headings), 1830-1831 (revised edition) and 1842 (revised and expanded edition).
Napoleon I of France
Napoleon Bonaparte was a French military and political leader during the latter stages of the French Revolution.As Napoleon I, he was Emperor of the French from 1804 to 1815...
written down and edited by Emmanuel, comte de Las Cases
Emmanuel, comte de Las Cases
Emmanuel-Augustin-Dieudonné-Joseph, comte de Las Cases was a French atlas-maker and author, famed for an admiring book on Napoleon....
as a result of their almost daily conversations during the former's exile on Saint Helena
Saint Helena
Saint Helena , named after St Helena of Constantinople, is an island of volcanic origin in the South Atlantic Ocean. It is part of the British overseas territory of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha which also includes Ascension Island and the islands of Tristan da Cunha...
. Contrary to a widely-held opinion, the text was not dictated by Napoleon and Las Cases always ensured they were complete and original. It was one of the greatest French literary successes of its era, crystallising regrets about and nostalgia for the First French Empire
First French Empire
The First French Empire , also known as the Greater French Empire or Napoleonic Empire, was the empire of Napoleon I of France...
and giving rise to the political current of Bonapartism
Bonapartism
Bonapartism is often defined as a political expression in the vocabulary of Marxism and Leninism, deriving from the career of Napoleon Bonaparte. Karl Marx was a student of Jacobinism and the French Revolution as well as a contemporary critic of the Second Republic and Second Empire...
. In them Napoleon is presented as continuing the French Revolution
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
, wanting the people's goodwill and thus hated by kings, and an account is given of his campaigns from his youth onwards. Many editions came out during the 19th century, including those in 1822-1823 (original edition), 1824 (additions and corrections to the former edition), 1828 (new headings), 1830-1831 (revised edition) and 1842 (revised and expanded edition).