This book is Roustam's firsthand account of his life as Napoleon Bonaparte's personal bodyguard and valet from 1799 until the emperor's first abdication in 1814. Sold into slavery as a child in the Caucasus, Roustam was eventually presented to Napoleon in Egypt. The young general took a liking to him, and Roustam entered his service, swearing an oath of loyalty he would never break.

The Story

The story follows Roustam's daily life in the whirlwind of Napoleon's empire. He describes his duties: dressing the Emperor, guarding his door, and accompanying him everywhere—from the glitter of the Tuileries Palace to the mud of Austerlitz and the snows of Russia. He shares intimate, often surprising details: Napoleon's simple tastes in food, his terrible handwriting, his bizarre sleeping habits, and the constant fear of assassination that Roustam managed. The narrative builds through the major events—the coronation, the battles, the marriages—but always from the unique perspective of the silent, watchful man in the ornate turban standing three feet away. The story ends not with a grand historical analysis, but with Roustam's personal crisis: his agonizing decision to break his oath and not follow Napoleon into exile on Elba, a choice that haunted him for the rest of his life.

Why You Should Read It

You should read this because it completely changes how you see Napoleon. History books give you the strategist and the statesman. Roustam gives you the human. Here is a man who could terrify nations, yet needed his bodyguard to check for assassins under his bed every night. The devotion Roustam feels is real and complex; he loves Napoleon like family, but he's also a piece of property in a gilded cage. Reading this is like having a backstage pass to history. You get the dust, the sweat, the fear, and the weird mundanity of life alongside a world-shaker. It’s incredibly powerful to see these epic events through the eyes of someone who wasn't making the decisions, just living with their consequences.

Final Verdict

Perfect for history buffs who are tired of the same old biographies and want a ground-level view of the Napoleonic era. It's also a great pick for anyone who loves memoirs about extraordinary friendships and impossible loyalties. If you enjoyed the personal servant perspectives in books like The Personal History of Samuel Pepys or just want a truly unique primary source that reads like an adventure novel, grab this book. A word of caution: it's a 19th-century text, so the prose can be straightforward, but that just adds to its authentic, eyewitness feel.