NAPOLEON

Epstein, Robert M. Napoleon's Last Victory and the Emergence of Modern War. University Press of Kansas:1994. A new study of the Franco-Prussian War of 1809.  Hardcover.  6"x9", 215 pages, maps; dj. $20.00

Irwin, Eyles. An Enquiry into the Feasibility of the Supposed Expedition of Buonaparte to the East. London; printed for George Nicol: 1798. A pamphlet which addresses the English concern that now that Napoleon had reached Egypt, he might keep going and invade British possessions in India. Irwin thinks that an unlikely scenario, and outlines his reasons.  OCLC locates 14 copies.  5.5"x9", 22 pages, stitched softcovers with original blue paper wrapper; light wear and soil, very small triangular portion missing from the rear cover; light browning, o/w a very nice copy. [28583] $500.00

A nice copy in the original paper covers-

Jomini, Le General Baron de [Antoine Henri]. Album Contenant un Plan de la Bataille de Waterloo dresse par Le General Baron de Jomini et Douze Vues des Environs du Dit Champ de Bataille. Bussells; H. Gerard: nd (1846. 2nd edition) The twelve lithographed plates in this intriguing viewbook illustrate the battlefield as it appeared in the 1840s. Gentlemen and Ladies stroll around the monuments, tombs, and several surviving buildings on the battlefield. The large folding map illustrates the positions of the armies during the battle, and is explained in English and French. Interestingly, some of the lithographed plates are captioned in English, some in French, but few in both. Baron Antoine Henri Jomini was a Swiss General, author and student of strategy who penned several important military works including a history of Napoleon's 1815 campaign. An earlier edition of this piece was published in 1842.

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12"x9", lithographed title page and 12 lithographed plates plus a folding map; Original paper covers a bit soiled and with a few chips, and the map has a 3" tear, but overall a very clean, nice copy in its original state. [29348] $400.00

[Lullin de Chateauvieux, Frederick] Manuscript Transmitted from St. Helena, by An Unknown Channel. Translated from the French. New York; Van Winkle and Wiley: 1817.

"This work, which is equally distinguished by its spirit and its ingenuity, was given to the Publisher, with an assurance of its being brought from St. Helena, though an air of mystery was affectedly thrown round the mode of its conveyance. Whether it be really written by Buonaparte, or by some confidential friend, is a matter that must be left entirely to conjecture. It bears some resemblance to his style, more to his manner, and is altogether just what the ostensible Author, or an able apologist under his name, might be expected to say of his opinions, motives, and actions."

In point of fact, Napoleon did not write this charming tome, and denounced it in his will as a forgery. At the time of its publication, however, the book enjoyed great popularity, being issued in several countries, and was the subject of much speculation as to its true origins. Some thought it might be the first part of the "Memoirs" Napoleon was thought to be writing. Others sniffed the forger's pen, and embarked on a guessing game as to who might be responsible. M. Bertrand, a former army officer and relative of a French nobleman, was mentioned, as was Madame de Stael. Madame de Stael in turn pointed the finger at her former lover, the politician Benjamin Constant. Before long, however, it was divulged that the real author was the Marquis Lullin de Chateauvieux, a man heretofore not known for possessing any literary ability.

Although the volume's critics immediately trumpeted their vindication and redoubled their denouncements of the forgery as ridiculous, many still argued that, although not actually from the pen of the Emperor, the volume was in fact a good mirror of at least some of his feelings. Jomini, who admitted its inaccuracies, nonetheless actually incorporated parts of it into his own biography of Napoleon. It remains today as a fascinating remnant of the controversies, intrigues and passions of the period.

Hardcover.  4.5"x7", 204 pages, bound in 19th century quarter leather with a gilt-decorated spine, marbled boards, and marbled endpapers. Covers a bit rubbed, leather slightly dry, one old engraved bookplate pasted over another one on the front pastedown, tiny corner of the front free endpaper chipped off; some light internal browning and a spot or two, light scattered foxing. [28581] $350.00

Petre, F. Loraine. Napoleon at War. Selected Writings of F. Loraine Petre. New York; Hippocrene Books:1984. Selections from Petre's 5 volume set on Napoleon's military campaigns, edited and introduced by Albert A. Nofi. Hardcover.   6.5"x9", 291 pages, maps, dj; light wear. [29772] $20.00

St. M. Watson, G.L.de. The Story of Napoleon's Death-Mask told from the original documents. London; John Lane: 1915. Edition limited to 500 copies. An attempt to clear up the century-old controversy over the authenticity of the "competing" Napoleon death masks which only succeeded in muddying the waters further. Watson dismisses the Antommarchi mask as a copy of the Burton mask, a theory with which at least some contemporary experts agree, and tirelessly works out a timetable for Burton which allows his mask to be genuine, if damaged and unreliable. He then, however, makes a case for the so-called "Sankey Cast", purportedly taken by artist Joseph William Rubidge, who also sketched the dead emperor on his death bed. Experts today regard the Sankey/Rubidge cast as the least likely of any to be authentic, but Watson put up a good fight... An intriguing book on this rather esoteric, if contentious, subject. Hardcover. 6"x9", x, [2] 208 pages; 6 b/w plates; minor cover scuffing, tips worn, name erased from rear endpaper resulting in a few pinholes; else a very nice copy. [05019] $250.00

"Napoleon was a Man! His life was the stride of a demigod"
Goethe, "Conversations with Eckermann", 1828.

Also see- France & the French 

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