clisson and eugenie: a novelette by napoleon bonaparte
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Clisson and Eugenie by Napoleon Bonaparte
: Indranil Sarkar
Napoleon at 23
Politicians and military Generals writing novels or stories are hardly
uncommon. Though they are not usually very good, they generate
infinite curiosity in the readers world. Our understanding suffers aserious jerk when we hear people like Napoleon whose business is that
of grandstanding among captains and kings, fighting battles, signing
treaties and deciding the destiny of nations has also tried his hand in
writing a novel.
But sometimes truth is stranger than fiction. And, unbelievable though,
its a fact that the great French General and Dictator Nepoleon
Bonaparte tried to write novel as a young general of 26.
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Clisson and Eugenie was the title of the only novel that was written
by Napoleon Bonaparte, the great French Dictator in 1795. It was
published in 2007 by the Gallic Books. Editor Peter Hicks assorted the
original 22 page hand written manuscript of the story with the help of
his wife and a number of scholars. Ultimately the 22 page manuscript
became a 77 page romance novelette. Peter Hicks and Emilie Barthet
translated and edited it into English.
The reconstructed novelette turns out to be a beautiful romance of
young general French named Clisson. It narrates a somewhat
autobiographic love romance of Napoleon with Eugene Desiree Clary at
about the same time.
Clisson, a 26 year old heroic French soldier is bored of glory and seeks
happiness. He befriends two sisters and falls in love with the
more spiritual of the two. He finds happiness with the gentle, quiet
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woman called Eugnie.Their eyes met and they soon knew that their
hearts were made for each other. Triumphant on the field of battle,
Clisson turns his back on worldly success. He falls in love and marries
Eugnie. Clisson then takes a break from army life and the couple
settles down in the country. "Months and years sped by like hours.
They had kids and remained deeply in love." They are living happily in
their country cottage. But, the young general is called back to lead
troops into battle. Eugnie, left alone with the children, writes every
day but Clisson is injured and he sends his deputy, Berville to convey
her sad news. The story takes a tragic turn from this point. Berville
doesnt return and the letters dwindle away. He seduces Eugene and
starts living with Eugene instead and very soon Eugene forgets Clisson.
Ultimately Clisson recovers from his wound and gets the news of
Eugenes new love life. The frustrating incident makes Clisson
demoralized. He responses to the end of his marriage by throwing
himself into a stupidly dangerous position in battle ensuring his death
in a remarkably melodramatic way tinged with revenge.
The plot is based on Napoleon's own brief romance with Desiree Clary,
the sister of his brother's wife.
The novel is of only 22 page and quite difficult to read. It was written
by the great general when he was more preoccupied with literary
interest than by political pursuits. According to Hicks Nepoleon was a
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