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VOLUME EIGHT ARRIVES...
Financial crises, governmental reshuffles, austerity plans… things are looking a little bleak at the moment. As governments in Europe look to cut expenditure where they can, the Fondation Napoléon continues to spare no effort in bringing you the latest edition of the General Correspondence of Napoleon Bonaparte. We are always looking to give you more for your money, as is certainly the case with volume eight, out since 9 November: edited by Gabriel Madec, it contains 3,019 letters, 6,159 footnotes, two studies, five annexes, seven maps, and 1,711 index entries, with the whole thing weighing in at 1,764 pages, a full seven centimetres thick and over two kilograms in weight! Sometimes, more is decidedly better…
François Houdecek
Project manager, Project for the Publication of the General Correspondence of Napoleon Bonaparte
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THE GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE
Volume eight released
Volume eight of the General Correspondence of Napoleon Bonaparte, the Fondation Napoléon's "epoch-making" project to annotate and publish the most complete version ever of the French emperor's letters, is now out. Volume eight is a slight departure from the previous releases in that it covers more than a year's worth of correspondence, from January 1808 to January 1809. François Houdecek, project manager, settles back down again to deliver his progress report. Pulling out his scales and measuring equipment, François runs the rule over the hefty tome - the largest in the series thus far - and proceeds to outline the project's evolution as the data input stage comes to an end.
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Letter from Napoleon to Murat, 23 March 1808, with commentary from Gabriel Madec
As part of our volume eight blow-out, Gabriel Madec takes us through an intriguing letter taken from the latest release in the General Correspondence of Napoleon Bonaparte. This letter, dated 23 March 1808, sees Napoleon writing to Murat as the latter arrived in Madrid to take control of the country. Fabrication and manipulation combine as Napoleon justifies his delay in departure for the Iberian Peninsula, whilst doubts linger over French involvement in the Aranjuez riots that would contribute to the Bourbon family's removal. The volume's editor helps us unpick this fascinating episode.
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ARTICLE OF THE MONTH
"Introduction: southern expansion and resistance", by Gabriel Madec
Thanks to his intimacy with the material, Gabriel Madec's introduction to volume eight offers an overview of the state of play in 1808. The key concerns for Napoleon this time around: the simple matter of deposing the Spanish Bourbon family, occupying Portugal and Spain, securing Russian support against Austria, and one or two difficult moments involving Talleyrand and Fouché. 1808 was the year cracks started to appear in the dominant imperial system, perhaps the biggest of all being Dupont's surrender at the Battle of Bailén, the first serious defeat that the Grande Armée had experienced.
The French article of the month is "Les ingénieurs géographes : la science au service de l'empire", by Jean-François Brun.
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NAPOLEONIC NEWS
The Napoleonic Historical Society launches 2012 calendar
The Napoleonic Historical Society is getting set to commemorate the 1812/2012 bicentennial by launching its full-colour calendar. Enthusiasts will be able to follow the day-to-day events as they unfolded in 1812. Episodes from not just the Russian campaign, but Spain and North America as well, have been included in the calendar, which also features a painting for each month. All profits from the sale of this calendar - $18, including postage, for US and Canadian orders, and $22 for overseas orders - will go to Operation St Helena, organised by the Fondation Napoléon and the Souvenir Napoléonien. Full details of the calendar, including sample pages, can be found on the NHS website.
SEEN ON THE WEB
Mrs Beeton's Book of Household Management celebrates its 150th anniversary
The Fondation Napoléon's favourite cook-book, Mrs Beeton's Book of Household Management (from which a number of our Christmas recipes have been sourced), is celebrating its 150th anniversary this winter. Published in October 1861, the full story behind this fascinating character and her book of recipes, tips, and advice for managing a household can be found here.
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WHAT'S ON
"Naval Leadership in the Age of Sail (1750-1840)", Portsmouth, UK
Taking place at the beginning of December, the interdisciplinary, international conference "Naval Leadership in the Age of Sail (1750-1840)" sets out to discuss the issue of leadership in a naval context. The first in a series of four, subjects discussed will include admirals of the Spanish Navy during the Revolution and Empire, and types of naval leadership. The conference will also feature the first Colin White Memorial Lecture, entitled "The Leadership Touch and Beyond". The event takes place at the National Museum of the Royal Navy, Portsmouth, between 2 and 3 December 2011.
200 YEARS AGO
Jacques-Louis David elected to the Accademia di San Luca in Rome
By 1811, Jacques-Louis David, celebrated painter and the artist behind the monumental The sacre or coronation of the Emperor Napoleon I, had recognition, success, and respect. Already a member of the Institut de France since the Directory period, in late 1811 he was elected member of the Accademia di San Luca, an Italian association of artists based in Rome. On 18 November 1811, the Moniteur Universel carried a short report on the council meeting which saw the painter finally recognised and admitted into the academy's elected but purely honorific ranks:
"On the third of this month, the Académie des arts had called a meeting and was set to discuss the nomination of several French artists for associate member positions when the celebrated sculptor Monsieur Canova [also president of the academy] noted with surprise that he could find nowhere amongst the names of [the academy's] members that belonging to Monsieur David, first painter to H.M. the emperor and king. He immediately proposed [David] as candidate for the assembly. This proposal was met with enthusiasm, and at that very moment - with no heed paid to voting procedure which, according to form, should have been held at the next session - Monsieur David's induction as member of the Académie de Rome was voted through with universal acclaim."
Admission was only granted upon donation of a work of art from the artist. The Accademia di San Luca is still active today.
150 YEARS AGO
Dangerous fashion, part two
Following on from our recent report on the dangers of popular fashion (see bulletin n° 599), the 18 November 1861 edition of the Moniteur Universel reported on a recent development destined to improve the health and safety of a notoriously flammable staple of the fashionista's wardrobe: light and elegant woven fabrics.
"A French chemist has recently discovered the method for rendering chiffon, lace, tulle and other light fabrics non-combustible. He has made no secret of his discovery. Just as the season for balls and dinner parties is beginning, writes The Gironde, and most importantly with the intention of enlightening theatre-going ladies - among whom there are so many accidents - we feel it our duty to pass on this simple and useful technique:
According to the scientist, in order to render your fabric non-combustible one simply takes the starch - used to stiffen it - and adds to it half its weight of calcium carbonate, commonly known as chalk or blanc d'Espagne. The fabric is then pressed as normal. This addition of chalk in no way diminishes the appearance, quality or whiteness of the fabric."
Wishing you an excellent "Napoleonic" week,
Peter Hicks & Hamish Davey Wright
Historians and web-editors
THE NAPOLEON.ORG BULLETIN, N° 604, 18 – 24 NOVEMBER, 2011
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© This Napoleon.org weekly bulletin is published by the Fondation Napoléon. Reproduction or all or part of this bulletin is forbidden, without prior agreement of the Fondation Napoléon.
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OPERATION ST HELENA
The Fondation Napoléon and the Souvenir Napoléonien, in association with the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, have announced an international fund-raising campaign to restore and save Napoleon I's residence on the island of St Helena. All the details regarding the campaign as well as donation forms and advice for donating from outside France, can be found on napoleon.org.
FONDATION NAPOLEON ON THE WEB
Each week we offer you a "mystery" link to somewhere on napoleon.org. Click on the link to discover a part of the website you might not have visited before...
MAGAZINE
Just published
- Multiple Antiquities - Multiple Modernities: Ancient Histories in Nineteenth Century European Cultures, edited by Gábor Klaniczay and Michael Werner
- The Waterloo Collection: Cavalry Charge - La Haie Sainte & Plancenoit, by Tom Dormer, Andrew Duff, Tim Saunders, Graeme Cooper, Mike Peters, and Frank Toogood
EVENTS
On now and coming up
A selection of events taking place now or in the coming weeks, taken from our What's on listings.
Conference
- "Naval Leadership in the Age of Sail (1750-1840)", Portsmouth, UK [02/12/2011-03/12/2011]
Full details
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