The library has prepared and published a scientific publication "Listy da Zhazefіny: vaennyja shlyahi frantsuzskaga afitsera. 1805-1812" (lit.: Letters to Josefine: the French officer’s war passes. 1805-1812). The letters of the French officer Charles-Philippe Fitte de Soucy to his wife, kept in the collection of the National Library of Belarus, were used as the main scientific resource.
The military adventures of a French officer who participated in a number of Napoleonic campaigns of 1805–1812 in Italy, Austria, Prussia, Spain, Portugal and Russia are described in detail in the book. Letters from this places contain information about significant historical events and famous figures of this period of time. The description of the last year of the officer's life, a story about the dramatic military events of 1812 that take place on Belarusian lands, takes a special place in this publication. The book consistently reveals the military career of de Soucy, who was the famous French generals’ (M.-A. Beaumont, F.-E. Kellermane, P. Vatie) adjutant for most of his duty period. The example of the tragic fate of the protagonist reflects the defeat of the all large army of Napoleon in the campaign against the Russian Empire.
Letters filled with love for his wife and children also reveal the family history of the hero. Charles asked Josephine to write more often about how she loved him, since the letters replaced her meetings during her separation. Some messages acquaint with intimate details of his personal life: their first meeting and love story are mentioned.
The monograph is the result of cooperation between the Belarusian and French parties, due to the specifics of the topic touched upon in the book. The monograph is the result of cooperation between the Belarusian and French parties, due to the specifics of the topic touched upon in the book. Its authors are Anatoly Steburako, Candidate of Historical Sciences, Associate Professor, Head of the Research Department of Bibliology of the National Library of Belarus, and Francoise-Albertine Masse, a member of the "Association of Friends of Archives" (Paris). Much of the historical documents and epistolary was found in the French archives, but the absolute majority of the officer’s letters were found in the collection of the National Library of Belarus.
The monograph continues the tradition of studying the Belarusian archival collections and their introduction into scientific avtivities. At the same time, it touches upon the important problem of the fate of documentary monuments displaced in the twentieth century. The publication presents its own version of the appearance of the de Soucy’s letters in the main Library of Belarus after the end of the Second World War.
You can buy this book by subscription or in the book stand on the 1st floor of the Library. The opening hours of the stand corresponds to the library’s opening hours. The book costs 7,92 BYN.
The article is provided by the Bibliology Research Department.
