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THIS MONTH'S BOOK
Journal de Voyage du Général Desaix: Suisse et Italie (1797), by Louis-Charles-Antoine Desaix
The Alessandria-based Centro Europeo di Studi e Ricerche sul Periodo Napoleonico or CNE (Italy) has published a reprint of the Chuquet edition Desaix's fascinating account of his travels in Switzerland and Italy in 1797.
DATE FOR YOUR DIARY 2004: A "FIRST EMPIRE" AT THE PALAIS DES CONGRES
At last a French Napoleonic Fair! On 3, 4 and 5 December 2004, at the Palais des Congrès, Porte Maillot, Paris, a "Salon du Premier Empire" is to take place, organised by the company "Histoire de Communiquer", with the patronage of the Fondation Napoléon. Stands for Napoleonic sites, antique dealers, craftsmen, information, an exhibition and talks are planned. Want to come, want to have a stand, want to receive the press pack, write an email.
"PRETTY BOOK": THE CORONATION OF NAPOLEON I
If we had a part of the site entitled 'Home Produce', the book which Nouveau Monde Editions has just published would be a prime candidate. Entitled Le Sacre de Napoléon (The Coronation of Napoleon), the work (in French) is in fact a collection of essays written by all the historians at the Fondation Napoléon (thierry Lentz, Irène Delage, Peter Hicks, Karine Huguenaud, Chantal Lheureux-Prévot, and Emilie Barthet) and edited by the director of the Fondation Napoléon, Thierry Lentz. Richly illustrated (180 reproductions), this 200-page book has eight essays (relating to the historical context, the ceremonial, the mood of Paris, etc.), and includes a timeline and a significant bibliography. In all good (French) bookstores from next week, price 49 Euros.
REMINDER: A NEW MESSAGE BOARD: ASSISTANCE FOR THE CORRESPONDANCE PROJECT
The project for the publication of the complete Correspondance of Napoleon Ist continues to advance and we have begun the annotation process. On our new message board, we are posting a certain number of questions to which (despite searching) we have as yet no answers. By posting your replies you will be bringing your very valuable participation to the ongoing project. Please make sure to cite your sources as precisely as possibile and to include your email address.
ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEARS AGO
In the night of 17-18 October, 1853, Flaubert wrote a letter to Louise Colet (his mistress), in which he railed against the difficulties he was having in writing his novel, Madame Bovary:
"[...] I am prostrate with ennui and humiliated by my powerlessness. [...] The ideas just won't come. I keep digging down, into my mind, my heart, my senses, but nothing flows out. I spent the whole day today, up to now, sprawling in every chair in my room, not only incapable of writing a single line but even of finding a thought or a movement! Empty, I'm completely empty.
This book, at the stage where I am now, is such torture (and if I could find a stronger word, I would use it!) that I am sometimes physically ill. For three weeks now I have regularly had such pains as to give me blackouts. Sometimes I feel suffocated or want to vomit at mealtimes. Everything disgusts me. I think today that I would have hanged myself with great pleasure, had not my pride prevented me. Of course I've sometimes been tempted just to 'bang' it all (and Madame Bovary first and foremost) in the wastebin. What a wretched idea it was of mine to take on such a subject! Ah! the birth pangs of Art, I've certainly had some of those!"
Discover the website of the Centre Flaubert at the University of Rouen
TWO HUNDRED YEARS AGO
26 Vendémiaire, An XII (19 October, 1803), France signed a convention of neutrality and mutual aid with Spain: this freed Spain from the necessity of going to war with Britain, whilst allowing France the possiblity of ready money (via trade) to fill its war chest.
Wishing you an excellent, Napoleonic, week!
Peter Hicks
Historian and Web editor
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THIS WEEK:
Snippets
- Christian Clavier's Napleon (in its A&E format) wins Emmy
- "Napoleon's nose" finds its resting place at the Dali Museum in Figueres, Northern Spain
Web sites
- The Crimean War Society
Go to the Napoleonic Directory, scroll down to Web sites, select 'Associations'
- 1805-14 Historia militar: la Guerra de la Independencia
Go to the Napoleonic Directory, scroll down to Web sites, select 'History'
Music
- The Band of the Garde Impériale plays the music of the Garde Impériale on CD
What's on
- Napoleonic Association Autumn Conference
- The Exhibition/Antiques Fair in Montecchio Emilia
- Joint Annual Conference - Napoleonic Society of America/Napoleonic Alliance
- Sale of the Bill Blass collection
- Exhibition: Napoleon in Brazil
- Exhibition: Art booty in the Napoleonic period. The "French gift" to Mainz, 1803
- Exhibition: Bonaparte or Buonaparte
The monthly titles
- This month's book: Journal de Voyage du Général Desaix: Suisse et Italie (1797), by Louis-Charles-Antoine des Aix
- This month's painting: The Birth of Venus, painted in 1863 by Alexandre Cabanel (1823-1889)
- This month's article: A tale of Napoleonic forgeries?, by Peter Hicks
- In the Collectors Corner, The Cent-Jours standard Eagle of the 6e Régiment des Chasseurs à Cheval
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