The Memorial of Saint Helena

The Memorial of Saint Helena (French: Le Mémorial de Sainte-Hélène) is a collection of memories of Napoleon I of France written down and edited by Emmanuel, comte de Las Cases as a result of their almost daily conversations during the former's exile on Saint Helena. Contrary to a widely held opinion, the text was not dictated by Napoleon and Las Cases always ensured they were complete and original. It was one of the greatest French literary successes of its era, crystallising regrets about and nostalgia for the First French Empire and giving rise to the political current of Bonapartism. In them Napoleon is presented as continuing the French Revolution, wanting the people's goodwill and thus hated by kings, and an account is given of his campaigns from his youth onwards. Many editions came out during the 19th century, including those in 1822–23 (original edition), 1824 (additions and corrections to the former edition), 1828 (new headings), 1830–31 (revised edition) and 1842 (revised and expanded edition).