Memoirs of the life, exile, and conversations of the Emperor Napoleon. (Vol. II)

In Short

This volume captures Napoleon Bonaparte in his Atlantic exile at St. Helena, recorded day by day by his faithful companion, the Count de Las Cases. Moving from the temporary calm of the Briars estate to the permanent confinement of Longwood, the narrative combines private conversations, political memoirs, and the indignities of captivity under British supervision. Napoleon defends his imperial record, evaluates his contemporaries, dictates the histories of his early campaigns, and frames his legacy as the champion of liberal principles. Part intimate diary and part calculated political monument, the book has endured as the foundational text of the Napoleonic legend, offering a captivating, highly subjective insider portrait of one of history’s most influential figures at his lowest ebb.

The Story

The volume opens in the early months of Napoleon’s exile on St. Helena, tracing the transition from his brief, relatively tranquil stay at the Briars to the rigid, permanent confinement of Longwood. At first, isolated from European news and left largely to his own routine, Napoleon spends his days learning English, walking by moonlight, and reminiscing about his Corsican childhood and Italian victories. This temporary calm gives way to a harsher reality as the French suite establishes itself at Longwood. Here, under the watchful eye of the newly arrived British Governor, Sir Hudson Lowe, captivity acquires a strict, contentious character.

Napoleon responds to his confinement by establishing a carefully maintained court etiquette, choosing dignity over submission. He refuses to acknowledge measures that treat him as a mere prisoner rather than a former monarch, drawing a moral boundary against what he views as arbitrary persecution. Tensions flare over administrative demands, including the British requirement that his French attendants sign formal declarations of voluntary submission to his captivity. Minor slights, such as inappropriate dinner invitations from the governor or surveillance by British officers, become battlegrounds of pride and diplomacy.

To combat the tedium of island life, Las Cases urges the Emperor to resume dictating his memoirs. Napoleon embraces the project, parceling out different historical epochs to his companions—Gourgaud, Montholon, Bertrand, and Las Cases himself. As he dictates, Napoleon reexamines the major turning points of his life. He revisits the coup of 18 Brumaire, framing it as a necessary act that saved a collapsing state rather than a simple usurpation of power. He details the domestic intrigues of the Consulate, the conspiracies of Cadoudal and Pichegru, and the tragic circumstances surrounding the Spanish campaign, illustrating his points with military orders and historical notes.

Alongside these grand historical justifications, the narrative paints a vivid picture of daily routines. Napoleon rides within his permitted limits, dines with his suite, critiques classical literature, and discusses subjects ranging from Chinese trade to Roman history. He offers candid, often biting assessments of his marshals, foreign ministers, and European rivals, contrasting the betrayals he suffered with the loyalty of his immediate household. Throughout these exchanges, Napoleon remains acutely conscious of his place in history, predicting that his exile will transform him into a martyr for liberal ideas and national self-determination.

As the months progress, the physical and emotional toll of captivity deepens. Napoleon’s health shows signs of decline, marked by lingering colds, fatigue, and periods of inactivity. Yet even as his world shrinks to a few rooms and guarded boundaries, his focus remains fixed on the future. By shaping his narrative for posterity, he uses his final place of confinement to win the historical argument, transforming a desolate exile into the ultimate stage for his enduring political legend.

How It Unfolds

The routine established At the Briars, Napoleon spends his days in relative seclusion, taking early rides, learning English sentences during walks, and reflecting on his early youth rather than European politics.

The shift to Longwood Moving to their permanent residence, the exile takes on a rigid structure as Napoleon establishes a strict court etiquette to preserve his dignity against British oversight.

Demands and declarations The British governor requires the French suite to sign individual declarations submitting to the restrictions of the exile, prompting Las Cases to formally record his unwavering loyalty to the Emperor.

The dictations resume To banish boredom and preserve his legacy, Napoleon divides the history of his reign among his followers, assigning specific campaigns and political eras to each officer.

Revisiting conspiracies Napoleon recounts the early threats to his rule, describing the police measures that uncovered the royalist plots of Georges Cadoudal and the betrayal of General Pichegru.

Reflections on power and policy In wide-ranging conversations, the Emperor critiques his former marshals, analyzes the disastrous intervention in Spain, and defends the necessity of the 18 Brumaire coup as a salvation for France.

Clashes with authority Petty bureaucratic conflicts intensify, highlighted by Napoleon's refusal to accept improper dinner invitations from Governor Lowe or submit to intrusive surveillance.

The People

• Napoleon Bonaparte wants to defend his imperial legacy, maintain his personal dignity despite his captivity, and shape how history will view his reign. Hindered by British guards, failing health, and the geography of St. Helena, he responds by turning his exile into a platform for his memoirs, transforming himself from a defeated sovereign into a champion of liberal ideals.
• The Count de Las Cases wants to serve Napoleon with unyielding devotion, alleviate the hardships of his captivity, and record every detail of his master's private thoughts. Standing between the Emperor's grand past and his quiet exile, he acts as secretary, translator, and biographer, remaining steadfast even when subjected to personal privations and official surveillance.
• Sir Hudson Lowe wants to strictly enforce the British government's security protocols and ensure the Emperor cannot escape. Stymied by Napoleon's refusal to cooperate with petty regulations or acknowledge his authority, he becomes the primary adversary in the Longwood household, growing increasingly anxious over surveillance and protocol.
• Madame Bertrand and Madame Montholon want to preserve a semblance of domestic life and social comfort for their families while living under restrictive conditions. Faced with isolation and physical discomfort, they navigate the delicate social dynamics of Napoleon's mini-court, providing companionship during meals and rides.

In Its Own Voice

“Liberal opinions will rule the universe. They will become the faith, the religion, the morality of all nations; and, in spite of all that may be advanced to the contrary, this memorable era will be inseparably connected with my name...”

Napoleon expresses his firm conviction that his reign sparked a global movement toward constitutional freedom that no restoration of old monarchies can erase.

“The Emperor brings them to it from the first day, and the most profound respect is manifested.”

Las Cases describes how Napoleon insisted on maintaining royal protocol at Longwood to prevent the British military staff from treating him as a common prisoner.

“Metaphysicians have disputed, and will long dispute, whether we did not violate the laws, and whether we were not criminal; but these are mere abstractions, at best fit for books and tribunes, and which ought to disappear before imperative necessity...”

Reflecting on the coup of 18 Brumaire, Napoleon argues that extraordinary political actions are justified when the survival of the nation is at stake.

What It's Really About

Beneath its daily domestic detail and political gossip, the book is fundamentally a struggle over historical memory. It explores the conflict between physical force and intellectual legacy, examining how a deposed leader uses language, memory, and political philosophy to triumph over his captors.

The narrative addresses the nature of political legitimacy, the burdens of supreme power, and the inevitability of betrayal. Napoleon presents his rise not as the ambition of a conqueror, but as the execution of a historical necessity. He frames his legal codes, administrative reforms, and military campaigns as the foundational elements of modern European civilization.

At its core, the text asks whether a sovereign's true power resides in his throne or in his ideas. By portraying himself as a persecuted prophet of modern liberalism, Napoleon uses his captivity to frame his life story, ensuring that his political ideals outlast his physical defeat.

Why Read It Today

This volume offers an unvarnished, highly personal glimpse into one of history's most complex minds during a period of profound vulnerability. Readers fascinated by political leadership, military strategy, and psychological endurance will appreciate the intimacy of the record. Rather than reading a dry, retrospective biography, the reader feels present in the damp rooms of Longwood, listening to a fallen conqueror reflect on his life.

The book’s appeal lies in its dramatic contrast between world-historical grandeur and trivial daily frustrations. One moment Napoleon is analyzing the geopolitical weight of Russia and China or detailing the mechanics of a military campaign; the next, he is fuming over a misdirected letter, arguing about local prices, or struggling through an English grammar lesson.

It is not always an easy read. The prose reflects nineteenth-century literary sensibilities, filled with lengthy digressions, dense historical allusions, and defensive political self-justification. Readers must navigate detailed breakdowns of French revolutionary factions and forgotten diplomatic squabbles. Yet for those willing to match its deliberate pace, the reward is an unmatched portrait of human ambition wrestling with defeat, revealing how an emperor attempted to conquer history when he could no longer conquer the world.