Napoleon's Letters to Josephine, 1796-1812 For the First Time Collected and Translated, with Notes Social, Historical, and Chronological, from Contemporary Sources

About this book

The volume presents, for the first time, a complete collection of Napoleon I’s letters to his wife Joséphine, spanning the years 1796‑1812. Edited and translated by Henry Foljambe Hall, the work is accompanied by extensive social, historical and chronological notes drawn from contemporary sources such as the Tennant and Didot collections. The opening pages set a scholarly tone, preserving the original’s irregular hyphenation and spelling while correcting obvious typographical errors. Hall’s preface argues that understanding the “domestic side of the monster” requires direct access to Napoleon’s own correspondence, and he explains the challenges of rendering the Emperor’s terse, exact French into English. The reader is thus offered a meticulously sourced, annotated compilation that aims to correct earlier historiographical mistakes and to illuminate the personal side of a figure usually examined only through his public deeds.

The letters are written in Napoleon’s characteristic concise style, reflecting his habit of dictating brief, precise phrases. Hall’s translation strives to retain that brevity, occasionally employing rare period words to avoid modern colloquialisms. The commentary intersperses observations on Napoleon’s literary habits, his use of Freemasonry, and his relationships with contemporaries, providing a rich context for the correspondence. Scholars of Napoleonic history, students of 19th‑century European politics, and readers fascinated by the intimate voice of a great military leader will find this collection rewarding. The book’s blend of primary documents and scholarly notes makes it especially suitable for those seeking a nuanced portrait of Napoleon’s private life alongside his public legacy.