[Rarebooks] fs: Holy Fake Napoleons, Batgirl!! (1817)

[Joslin Hall Rare Books]

MANUSCRIPT TRANSMITTED FROM St. HELENA,
BY AN UNKNOWN CHANNEL.
Translated from the French.

[Lullin de Chateauvieux, Frederick]
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

The covers-
<http://www.joslinhall.com/images/th-28581.jpg>

More Napoleon-
<http://www.joslinhall.com/napoleon.htm>


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