The Conversation: The Night Napoleon Changed the World

by Jean d'Ormesson

Several years after the French Revolution, in the winter of 1804, Napoleon Bonaparte has to make a crucial to keep the main ideals of the new France alive or to elevate the country into a powerful base by making it an empire and becoming emperor.

One evening at the Tuileries Residence in Paris, Second Consul Jean-Jacques Cambacérès, a brilliant law scholar and close ally, listens as Napoleon struggles to determine what will be best for a country much weakened by ten years of wars and revolutions. Torn between his revolutionary ideals and his overwhelming longing for power, Napoleon Bonaparte declares that it can only be achieved by his taking the throne.

Bonaparte attempts to rally Cambacérès to his cause and maps out in great detail why France must become an empire, with him as its Emperor. The Republican hero desires only one to forge his legend during his lifetime. France has arrived at a crossroads, and Bonaparte must break many barriers to fulfill his ambition. “An empire is a Republic that has been enthroned,” he declares. And so, through the night, French history is made. With historical erudition, d’Ormesson remarkably captures the man’s vertigo of triumph, which ultimately leads to his fall.

Genres: Historical Fiction, France, Fiction

113 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 22, 2011

About the author

Jean Bruno Wladimir François de Paule Le Fèvre d’Ormesson est un écrivain, chroniqueur, éditorialiste et philosophe français. Ancien élève de l’École normale supérieure. Agrégé de philosophie. Directeur général du Figaro de 1974 à 1977. Secrétaire général, puis Président du Conseil international de la philosophie et des sciences humaines à l’UNESCO. Élu à l‘Académie française, le 18 octobre 1973, au fauteuil de Jules Romains (12e fauteuil).

Jean Bruno Wladimir François de Paule Le Fèvre d’Ormesson is a French writer, journalist, columnist and philosopher. Alumnus of the École normale supérieure. Degree in philosophy. CEO of Figaro from 1974 to 1977. Secretary-General, then President of the International Council of Philosophy and Human Sciences at UNESCO. Elected to the Académie française (French Academy), October 18, 1973, chair of Jules Romains (12th chair).

Reviews

[Cronicadelibros · Rating 4 out of 5]

Libro corto, cercano a una obra de teatro pero con una escritura más cercana a la poesía de verso libre, donde aprovechando diversas declaraciones, discursos, conversaciones de Napoleón que han llegado a nuestros días, el autor lo traslada de forma brillante a una conversación que sucede en un momento concreto fechado entre 1803-1804 en el despacho de Napoleón en el Palacio de las Tullerías, entre él mismo y el segundo cónsul, en una conversación informal que va derivando hasta el momento en que Napoleón ya ve la necesidad de investirse como Emperador de los franceses.

[Kundry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ça vaut le coup de lire ce court livre, rapide à lire mais construit sur des bases solides. Franchement, une belle surprise qui aborde ce moment historique où Napoléon décide et exprime son choix de devenir empereur. On peut suivre sa ligne de pensée et examiner les raisons qui le motivent, et même parvenir à mieux comprendre la décision. Fortement récommandé.

[Lyle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting and educational and a good light read, but feels as if the book itself dives into some great man theory territory too much for me to have too positive an opinion on it. Even and especially semi-nonfictional books as this ought to have a political lens applied to them, and I’m not too sure how this one withstands that test. Another minor complaint is that some of the lines seem to be led to in a somewhat haphazard way, in d’Ormesson wanting to include certain lines Napoleon has said in the dialogue.

[Jojostevepizzza · Rating 3 out of 5]

J'ai aimé, malheureusement sûrement pas pour les bonnes raisons. La conversation entre Bonaparte et Cambacérès ressemble à une conversation entre un méchant et son sbire qui ferait tout pour lui par amour. C'est vrai qu'on suit les idées et les arguments percutant de Napoléon, mais tout le côté fanatique de Cambacérès rend l'œuvre hilarante par son engouement beaucoup trop prononcé pour le futur jeune empereur.

[mattea valenti]

Ce qui est le plus impressionnant, c'est réellement la qualité de la plume de Jean d'Ormesson qui arrive à écrire une conversation, qui reste une conversation, tout en arrivant à poser, pièce après pièce, des éléments historiques et à bâtir une "revue historique" et à nous garder happer par les mots.

Ça change beaucoup de ce que je lis habituellement, mais j'ai apprécié ma lecture.

[Gaele · Rating 5 out of 5]

History has always fascinated me, and the motivations and justifications of the people in the mix is always intriguing. Using words from Napoleon, although not necessarily strung together in this order, Jean d’Ormesson has imagined a conversation between Napoleon and his 2nd most powerful ally in the early rebuilding of the French government after the deposition of the King. While this conversation is fictional, d’Ormesson lays out Napoleon’s own words, beliefs and statements to present a logical argument for his eventual declaration of himself as Emperor, as he bounces the ideas off a willing and intelligent ear.

While it is important to realize that Cambacérès was an ally, he also was one of those political animals, flexible enough to dance attendance on the power at the moment while he carefully kept his options open should change require a change in allegiance. Some of Cambacérès ‘flexibility’ is remarked upon by Bonaparte during this discussion with a sense that he sees the animal as it is, not as it wishes to be seen, and can accept the self-preservation instincts that necessitate this seeming uncommitted approach.

Full of complaints about foolhardy friends and relations, a lack of cooperation from new allies, and the still infantile steps toward the republic of France that he envisions, Bonaparte has taken the people’s mandate, their wish for order, opportunity and peace, and balanced that against his belief that a strong hand with clear forward thinking vision will bring the country back to a functional and leading company in the world.

While this was quick reading, the most outstanding thought is of Bonaparte’s ability to project his wishes and desires forward, and logically intuit the next step needed to bring every element into place, the supreme marionette master, expecting all to dance attendance but stacking the deck so the choice he wants becomes the only worthy one. Basing his choices on the Roman Empire rather than on some re-designed Bourbon legacy, these careful choices show his logical thought toward an end.

The only question then, is what went wrong? History tells us that he failed, although in spectacular fashion after leaving his mark on France and Europe that will not be soon forgotten. Jean d’Ormesson leaves readers with a new sense of Napoleon the man, and may encourage more to explore his rule more carefully.

I received an eGalley copy from the publisher for purpose of honest review for France Book Tours. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

[Alyssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a conversation in the very literal sense of the word. The book in its entirety is a conversation between Bonaparte and Cambacérès. It took me a few pages to get used to the format, but once I did, I wished that I could have read this book as an audiobook, and had two actors performing the parts. However, the conversation was compelling enough on its own that it didn't take me too long to read.

"A society without religion is like a ship without a compass. … I am Catholic here because most people are Catholics."

These lines (and the entire paragraph) caught my attention. I don't know as much about French history as I would like (one of these days I shall take time to study it beyond the French Revolution we learned in school), but I do remember reading about Napoleon re-opening the churches (shuttered by those who took over during the Revolution). I just hadn't realized that his own beliefs were not religious.

Yet Napoleon does not just focus on political plotting. There is an amusing (to me at least) digression into family relations, and the rivalry of his Empress Josephine with his sister Caroline over an expensive shawl, which breaks up some of the more historically-heavy sections.

The majority of the conversation details Napoleon's determination to be called Emperor of the French; his reasoning and plans are detailed, and you can imagine yourself a fly on the wall as he plots his ascension.

[T.B. Markinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

What impressed me the most about this book is the author’s ability to keep the conversation as a conversation and yet he’s able to drop useful nuggets of information for readers like me who don’t know the full story. I worried that I would be sitting on the outside looking in since I’m not an expert about this time period. That wasn’t the case at all. Jean d’Ormesson slips in information effortlessly and it doesn’t distract from the flow of the dialogue but adds to it. If you weren’t looking for the information, like I was, you may not notice it at all. And he doesn’t go overboard on providing historical details. At times he includes casual conversation that normal people would have. For instance, Napoleon talks about a shawl that Josephine acquired and how it caused a row in his family.

The book is quite short and I read it in one sitting. Of course, this conversation never actually happened, but the ideas included in it are taken from historical record. If you are a history buff, this would be a great addition to your collection. While reading, I felt like I was sitting off to the side, listening to these men discuss the fate of France and I felt honored to be part of it.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Born and raised in France, I heard a lot about Jean d’Ormesson, and even read a few things by him, decades ago. I was surprised and thrilled that he was still publishing, and in my most favorite genre: historical fiction.

This is indeed a very delightful work of historical fiction, and very original in its form, as it is presented as a conversation. But wait, what a conversation!
Imagine: France has just been through hell and fire, with the bloody Revolution of 1789 and the post Revolution years, just as bloody and hellish. Everything had collapsed with the royal heads, including the economy of a country already devastated by famine and very cold weather.

It took five years to...
read my full review here:
http://wordsandpeace.com/2013/12/05/b...

[Britt, Book Habitue · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars
A little stilted, possibly because of the translation, possibly because it's all things Napoleon actually said worked into a dialogue.
Overall, really interesting, though the sidebar about the second consul's sexuality seemed odd and out of place.

(Copy received for review)

[Raquel · Rating 4 out of 5]

At 108 pages, this is a very quick read that introduces you to Napoleon Bonaparte and his reasoning for proclaiming himself emperor. It certainly has piqued my interest in learning more about him and his family.