340pp. Handsome recent 1/4 cloth limited edition binding, paper label to spine. Von Ense, an exceptionally perceptive member of the German intelligentsia, records his school days in Strasbourg; the obnoxiousness of the French emigres; the initial enthusiasm of the German lower classes for the French armies; is wounded at Wagram; spends 1810-1811 in Paris attached to the Austrian diplomatic mission, where his observations of the major figures of the Emperor are wonderful ('I was near the Emperor and looked closely at him; for the first time I was struck by his great beauty, and also by the power of his iron countenance. His air was fixed, unbending, almost cruel...not a trace of kindness in his manner; and his mouth seemed ever ready to pronounce some fearful order.' ) He records an interesting conversation between Napoleon and Count Niepperg, future lover of Marie Louise, and recounts his impressions of Berthier, Denon, Bernadotte, Davoust ('cringing' in the presence of the Emperor') and many others. The most remarkable section of the book, however, covers Von Ense's service with the Russian General Tettenborn's regiment of Cossacks in North Germany and France in 1813-14. One of the most interesting (and little-known) memoirs of the period. Not in Horward--quite scarce.

Napoleonic Wars Napoleon Von Ense French Emigres Wagram Cossacks Metternich