The book presents the recollections of Louis Constant Wairy, who served as Napoleon's premier valet de chambre for fifteen years, accompanying him through campaigns, travels, and court life. Constant begins by detailing his own modest origins and his accidental entry into the service of Josephine and her son Eugene de Beauharnais, eventually joining the household of the First Consul on the eve of the campaign of Marengo.
The narrative provides a close-up view of Napoleon's daily habits, his capacity for relentless work, his administrative attention to detail, and his complex relations with his family. Constant aims to present the hero in undress, balancing criticisms of his foibles with genuine admiration for his vast intellect, energy, and habitual kindness to those around him.
Particular attention is given to the atmosphere of Malmaison and the Tuileries during the Consulate, the evolution of court etiquette, and the persistent security threats faced by Napoleon, including the infernal machine plot. Constant describes historic scenes such as the crossing of Mount Saint Bernard, the aftermath of Marengo, and the coronation preparations.
The memoirs also detail the domestic tensions within the imperial family, notably the unhappy marriage of Louis Bonaparte and Hortense de Beauharnais, and various anecdotes concerning court figures and foreign visitors, such as the King of Etruria.
Throughout the text, Constant defends his master against what he terms calumnies and falsehoods, maintaining that despite moments of severity, Napoleon was a kind and considerate master to his servants. The account concludes on the eve of the Empire's full expansion, capturing the dynamic transition from republican general to sovereign.
