St. Helena Journal Of General Baron Gourgaud 1815-1818

Suggest and discuss books to read (all languages welcome!)
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vidalia11
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Joined: September 7th, 2006, 2:32 pm
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Post by vidalia11 »

General Gourgaud was one of three generals who accompanied Napoleon during his exile on St. Helena. His journal wasn't published until long after his death. He didn't write it for publication. In it, Napoleon is depicted as manipulative, scheming, selfish, a liar, bratty and a huge disappointment to Gourgaud. (Napoleon is also very amusing to the reader.) Gourgaud (who was in 30 battles and wounded), behaves like a jealous, bratty child. Napoleon constantly calls him a child and a baby. One agrees with Napoleon since Gourgaud is insufferable. But it is heart-rending how Gourgaud suffers humiliation after humiliation. He also had a funny sense of humor, sometimes inadvertent. Gourgaud despised one of the three generals and loathed his wife, who was thought to be Napoleon's mistress. He challenged the guy to a duel (it didn't take place) which was one of the reasons he ended up leaving St. Helena.

https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.53033
DrSpoke
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Post by DrSpoke »

This seems like it would make a nice addition to the catalogue!
elsieselwyn
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Post by elsieselwyn »

This does look very interesting. Unfortunately, it says on the copyright page the English translation was published in 1932. Therefore, we will have to wait 5 years, until 2028, for it to be PD for us to record. :(
Elsie :9:
Like Sweden and coming of age stories? Read for Pelle the Conqueror
Like travelogues and Anthony Trollope? Read for The West Indies and the Spanish Main
Shadowland: October, 1919
vidalia11
Posts: 34
Joined: September 7th, 2006, 2:32 pm
Location: Los Angeles, CA

Post by vidalia11 »

That's a drag. There is a 1903 book in English called "Talks of Napoleon at St. Helena with General Baron Gourgaud : together with the journal kept by Gourgaud on their journey from Waterloo to St. Helena." Not the same but also good.

https://archive.org/details/talksofnapoleona00gour/page/260/mode/2up
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