Louis-Joseph Marchand was born in Paris in 1791 and served as first valet to Napoleon from 1811 until the Emperor's death in 1821. He compiled notes throughout his service and his memoir remained in private hands until 1952 when it was published in French.
Jean Tulard is an eminent French historian and editor, specialising in the history of cinema, the French Consulate and the Napoleonic era. He is a Professor at the Sorbonne and a member of the Institute of France. In 2010 he became Commander of the Légion d’honneur.
