1873 Histoire et Memoires (Histories and Memories)

Description

The first edition of this set of historical works from French general and historian, Philippe Paul, comte de Segur. Very scarcely complete in eight volumes. 

Uniformly bound in half calf with marbled boards. 

Segur enlisted in the cavalry in 1800 and became attached to the personal staff of Napoleon. He served through most of the important campaigns of the first empire. 

During his initial retirement between 1818 and 1830 (before he took part in the July Revolution of 1830) Segur wrote his history of Napoleon and the Great Army during the year 1812, which is included in this set in Volumes IV-V. 

The unfavourable portrait he gives Napoleon provoked backlash from General Gourgaud, and eventually a duel in which Segur was wounded. 

The scarce final volume of this set, titled 'Melanges' offers memoirs, poems and a play written by Segur. 

With the bookplate of Gathorne Hardy to the front pastedowns. Gathorne-Hardy is the name of a British aristocratic family which have produced many notable members of 19th and 20th century British society.