Le Comte de Las Cases / Charlet - Mémorial de Sainte-Hélène

Fascinating two-volume set of this major testimonial concerning Napoleon Bonaparte's last years in exile on Saint Helena, where Las Cases shared his captivity and gathered his words - The work is presented as a journal recounting the daily conversations with Napoleon, his political, military and historical reflections, as well as his judgments on events of his career and on the great figures of his era - In it he exposes his vision of the Empire, his justifications of his actions, his criticisms of the European powers and his analysis of the causes of his downfall, while building an image of himself that is at once heroic and tragic - The text also describes the harsh living conditions on the island, the constant surveillance by the British authorities, the relations among the exile companions and the moments of solitude and contemplation of the former emperor - Through its narrative richness and intimate character, the work contributes to the making of the Napoleonic legend, presenting Napoleon as a visionary and misunderstood statesman, while offering a valuable historical document on the end of his life - Le Comte de Las Cases / Charlet - Memorial of Saint Helena, Followed by Napoleon in Exile - 1842 - Volume I and II - Ernest Bourdin - 825 Pages. Good condition of the bindings, volumes in their full brown period leather, wear from use, spine detached, binding weakened, hinges cracked, headcaps and corners worn, red edges, titles and tomes gilded in relief on the smooth spine with special-iron tooling, gold roll on the boards - Good interior condition, traces of dampness and some foxing not hindering reading, volumes enriched with numerous black engravings in and out of the text including a frontispiece after Charlet's illustrations, marbled endpapers in good condition - Delivery service guaranteed within a few days –

Estimate:$253.02

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