
The Closest Man to Napoleon: Memoirs of General Count Rapp
Old War Stories
This audiobook is narrated by a digital voice.
General Jean Rapp (1771–1821) wasn’t just another name in Napoleon’s massive war machine—he was one of the Emperor’s most fearless and fiercely loyal generals, a man who rode straight into cannon fire with unshakable courage and walked the halls of power with the trust of Napoleon himself. Born in the humble province of Alsace, Rapp climbed the ranks not through privilege, but through pure grit, earning his place at the Emperor’s side in some of history’s most dramatic battles—Austerlitz, Jena, and the doomed march into Russia.
His Memoirs, published after his death, are a gripping, behind-the-scenes account of the Napoleonic Wars’ final, chaotic chapters—especially the fateful year 1815. Through Rapp’s eyes, we witness not just the clash of armies, but the moral battles fought within: loyalty versus survival, honor versus betrayal, glory versus truth. This is no sanitized tale of conquest—Rapp’s reflections are raw, conflicted, and deeply human.
From the battlefield to the negotiation table, Rapp was more than just a warrior—he was a witness to the collapse of an empire. His memoirs remain one of the most compelling portals into the mindset of Napoleon’s inner circle, capturing the final, desperate push of Imperial France—and the staggering cost of its ambition.
Duration - 8h 40m.
Author - Old War Stories.
Narrator - Digital Voice Old War Stories E.
Published Date - Wednesday, 01 January 2025.
Copyright - © 1823 H. Colburn and Company ©.
Location:
United States
Networks:
Old War Stories
Digital Voice Old War Stories E
The Napoleonic Wars
OldWarStories
English Audiobooks
Findaway Audiobooks
Description:
This audiobook is narrated by a digital voice. General Jean Rapp (1771–1821) wasn’t just another name in Napoleon’s massive war machine—he was one of the Emperor’s most fearless and fiercely loyal generals, a man who rode straight into cannon fire with unshakable courage and walked the halls of power with the trust of Napoleon himself. Born in the humble province of Alsace, Rapp climbed the ranks not through privilege, but through pure grit, earning his place at the Emperor’s side in some of history’s most dramatic battles—Austerlitz, Jena, and the doomed march into Russia. His Memoirs, published after his death, are a gripping, behind-the-scenes account of the Napoleonic Wars’ final, chaotic chapters—especially the fateful year 1815. Through Rapp’s eyes, we witness not just the clash of armies, but the moral battles fought within: loyalty versus survival, honor versus betrayal, glory versus truth. This is no sanitized tale of conquest—Rapp’s reflections are raw, conflicted, and deeply human. From the battlefield to the negotiation table, Rapp was more than just a warrior—he was a witness to the collapse of an empire. His memoirs remain one of the most compelling portals into the mindset of Napoleon’s inner circle, capturing the final, desperate push of Imperial France—and the staggering cost of its ambition. Duration - 8h 40m. Author - Old War Stories. Narrator - Digital Voice Old War Stories E. Published Date - Wednesday, 01 January 2025. Copyright - © 1823 H. Colburn and Company ©.
Language:
English
Intro
Duration:00:01:19
Chapter 1: Claim to Fame
Duration:00:23:34
Chapter 2: The Capitulation of Ulm
Duration:00:28:29
Chapter 3: The True Story of Austerlitz
Duration:00:35:21
Chapter 4: The Battles of Jena and Auerstädt
Duration:00:30:21
Chapter 5: The Fall of Berlin (1806)
Duration:00:31:26
Chapter 6: Crossing the Vistula
Duration:00:29:39
Chapter 7: The Teen Who Tried to Kill Napoleon
Duration:00:21:38
Chapter 8: Crossing the Niemen
Duration:00:24:25
Chapter 9: The Battle of Smolensk
Duration:00:30:06
Chapter 10: Borodino
Duration:00:33:08
Chapter 11: Maloyaroslavets
Duration:00:29:07
Chapter 12: The Bridge to Survival
Duration:00:40:37
Chapter 13: Trapped in Danzig
Duration:00:29:09
Chapter 14: Siege of Danzig
Duration:00:25:09
Chapter 15: One Year Under Siege
Duration:00:19:38
Chapter 16: Napoleon’s Final Gamble Begins
Duration:00:28:13
Chapter 17: La Souffel
Duration:00:23:28
Chapter 18: Mutiny in Strasbourg
Duration:00:35:53