Napoleon’s Tomb

 
From the publishers:
On 15 December 1840, the Mortal Remains of Napoleon I were interred under the Dome of Les Invalides, after twenty years on the island of St Helena. Now it was necessary to build a tomb worthy of the great man. It would take twenty years to finish it and transfer the imperial remains, on 2 April 1861.
 
Why at Les Invalides?  How was the architect Visconti chosen to build the final sepulchre? Why did it take two decades? What materials were used? What is the meaning of the decorations in the crypt holding the tomb? What impact did this project have on the initial architecture of Louis XIV's former Royal Chapel?
 
This very readable work takes you through the project to build Napoleon's tomb and introduces you to all the main characters involved, from the decision to inter the Emperor in France taken by King Louis-Philippe through to the transfer of the remains into the monumental sarcophagus.
It is therefore a historical guide, but also a guide for the visitor, whom it takes on a step-by-step discovery of the site, explaining all its meaning.
 
Table of contents:
 
– Introduction
– From St Helena to the Hôtel des Invalides
– Twenty years for a tomb
– The Dome for a setting
– The monumental entrance to the crypt
– The funerary monument
– Napoleon's achievements in ten low reliefs
– The Chamber of the Sword
– The Imperial Necropolis
– The Musée de l'Armée's Napoleonic collections
– The Tomb today
 
About the author:
Céline Gautier is head of the Communication department at the Musée de l'Armée. The preface comes from General Robert Bresse, Director of the Musée de l'Armée.
 
From napoleon.org:
It is not often that our book of the month is a visitor's guide as well as a book of history. Under the able guidance of Céline Gautier, the reader is taken into Les Invalides, where the emperor resides far below the church's magnificent dome. A fascinating and richly illustrated guide, it comes complete with a detailed map and is published by Editions Soteca (Napoléon Ier magazine) in collaboration with the Musée de l'Armée. (E.P., tr. H.D.W.)

The English language version can be ordered by sending an email to David Chanteranne. Please include full address details as well as the number of copies required. The book is priced at €6.90. Postage and packaging costs will vary depending on the destination and the number of copies ordered.