The Memoirs of François René Vicomte de Chateaubriand sometime Ambassador to England, Volume 4 (of 6) / Mémoires d'outre-tombe volume 4

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

54879

Title

The Memoirs of François René Vicomte de Chateaubriand sometime Ambassador to England, Volume 4 (of 6) / Mémoires d'outre-tombe volume 4

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

In this fourth volume of his memoirs, François-René de Chateaubriand reflects on the post-Napoleonic era, detailing his transition from a Bonapartist giant to a peer of France under the Restoration. The text chronicles his diplomatic service in Berlin and London, his political struggles within the French Chamber of Peers, and his poignant observations on the shifting tides of European power, morality, and civilization during the reigns of Louis XVIII and Charles X.

Summary up to 500 words

Volume IV of François-René Vicomte de Chateaubriand's *Mémoires d'outre-tombe* chronicles the turbulent transition from the Napoleonic Empire to the Bourbon Restoration, a period the author views as a descent from the 'reality' of Napoleon into the 'nothingness' of petty politics. Appointed a peer of France in 1815, Chateaubriand navigates the Chamber of Peers, where his liberal opinions initially garner popularity despite hostility from the nobility. He delivers early speeches defending judicial independence and criticizing the Reign of Terror figures granted pensions, establishing his moral stance against the vassalage of foreign powers. A significant portion of the text details his diplomatic career. He recounts his tenure as Ambassador to Berlin, where he critiques the grim nature of Prussian fortresses and the rigid, outdated customs of the Prussian court. His correspondence with figures like Count von Humboldt and the Duchess of Cumberland highlights his engagement with Berlin society. Following the resignation of his colleagues Villèle and Corbière in 1821, Chateaubriand resigns his post in solidarity, a move praised by his friend Ancillon for its adherence to principle over fortune. He is subsequently appointed Ambassador to London in 1822. Here, he describes English society, the decline of George IV's reign, and his interactions with the Duke of Wellington and the Marquess of Londonderry. The volume culminates in the political upheavals of 1824–1827, including the death of Louis XVIII, the coronation of Charles X, and the eventual fall of the Villèle ministry. Throughout, Chateaubriand weaves personal reflections on mortality, the fading of great men, and the enduring dignity of the human spirit against the backdrop of a Europe redefining its borders and moral codes. He argues that while the Restoration may lack the grandeur of the Empire, it restored the dignity of mankind through liberty and the rights of human nature.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Classics
• Biography