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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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