Histoire de l'Ambassade dans le grand duché de Varsovie en 1812

First edition.
Contemporary binding in full blonde tree calf. Smooth spine decorated with geometric motifs, fleurons and gilt dentelles. Green morocco title-label. Blind fillet framing the boards. Gilt roulette on the edges and headcaps. A large abrasion to the front board.
Written in 1814, while Napoleon was fighting at the gates of Paris. The author, one of Napoleon's advisors for ten years, seeks in this work to draw the true portrait of the emperor, to scrutinize, behind the appearance of things, the true motivations and the true character of Napoleon Bonaparte. The author unmasks the false legends, understanding that the prodigious faculty of embracing everything has its reverse side, that of never delving deeply into anything; portrait of a man whose obsession and principal desire were to subject the world to his domination, who discoursed incessantly to seduce and captivate his entourage, and for whom men were never anything more than servants to his cause. This vitriolic portrait, thoughtful, true writer's work, does not fall into complacency and facile criticism.
Dominique de Pradt was accused by the emperor of having made him miss Europe during the Polish embassy, which was to be the last rampart before the fall of Russia. Moreover, the work has the merit of discovering ignored points of history, in its desire to determine Napoleon's system and thoughts, notably to exclude England from Europe and to confine Russia to its northern position.