[Transcriber's note: Obvious printer's errors have been corrected, allother inconsistencies are as in the original. The author's spellinghas been maintained.]
Napoleon Bonaparte in 1785, aged sixteen.
From sketch made by a comrade;
formerly in the Musée des Souverains, now in the Louvre.
THE LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE
BY
WILLIAM MILLIGAN SLOANE
PH.D., L.H.D., LL.D.
Professor of History in Columbia University
REVISED AND ENLARGED
WITH PORTRAITS
VOLUME I
NEW YORK
THE CENTURY CO.
1916
Copyright, 1894, 1895, 1896, 1910
BY
THE CENTURY CO.
Published, October, 1910
(p. v) PREFACE TO THE LIBRARY EDITION
This life of Napoleon was first published in 1896 as a book: for theyears 1895-96 it ran as a serial in the pages of the Century Magazine.Judging from the sales, it has been read by many tens if not hundredsof thousands of readers; and it has been extensively noticed in thecritical journals of both worlds. Throughout these fourteen years thedemand has been very large and steady, considering the size and costof the volumes. Both publishers and author have determined thereforethat a library edition was desired by the public, and in thatconfidence the book has been partly rewritten and entirely remade.
In the main it is the same book as that which has passed through somany editions. But in some respects it has been amplified. The portionrelating to the period of youth has been somewhat expanded, thepersonalities of those nearest to Napoleon have been in some casesmore broadly sketched, new chapters have been added to the treatmentof the Continental system, the Louisiana Purchase, and the St. Helenaepoch. In all the text has been lengthened about one-tenth.
Under the compulsion of physical dimensions the author has minimizedthe number of authorities and foot-notes. There is really very littlecontroversial matter regarding Napoleon which is not a matter ofopinion: the evidence has been so carefully sifted that substantialagreement as to fact has been reached. (p. vi) Accordingly there havebeen introduced at the opening of chapters or divisions short lists ofgood references for those who desire to extend their reading: expertsknow their own way. It is an interesting fact which throws great lighton the slight value of foot-notes that while I have had extensivecorrespondence with my fellow workers, there has come to me in allthese years but a single request for the source of two statements, andone demand for the evidence upon which certain opinions were based.
The former editions were duplicate books, a text by me and acommentary of exquisite illustrations by other hands. The divergencewas very confusing to serious minds; in this edition there can be nosimilar perplexity since the illustrations have been confined toportraits.
In putting these volumes through the press, in the p