There Once Was A Man Called Napoleon

By LL Eadie

"Bonjour! My name is Monsieur Pierre and may I introduce Mademoiselle Gigi. With the help of Gigi, I am going to tell the exciting true-life story of Napoleon Bonaparte's life. You see, Napoleon was my master. Gigi's mistress, Madame Josephine, was the love of Napoleon's life.

"Napoleon's pere wanted Napoleon's dream of becoming a soldier to come true. So, Gigi, his pere went to the French governor of Corsica and asked him for a scholarship for Napoleon.

"Napoleon worked so hard, Gigi. I stayed by his side late into the night. Some nights he only slept maybe four hours! Other nights he would wake up and go back to work. He worked hard like that his entire life!"

He was a desperate man. He left behind at Waterloo his beautiful military carriage. Napoleon was now a hunted man! His family left Paris and went into exile after Napoleon's defeat at the Battle of Waterloo!" explained Pierre.

"It took us seventy days to reach St. Helena, Gigi. The English sailors on the ship grew to like Napoleon on our long voyage. He talked to them often about the times in Egypt and Russia. He was their prisoner, but he became their friend! When we finally reached St. Helena, Napoleon said ... "

• Language: English
• Publisher: LL Eadie
• Release date: Jul 1, 2022
• ISBN: 9781734737165

LL Eadie

I grew up in North Florida, graduated from the University of Florida (Go Gators), and became a teacher. Since childhood, I have been creating stories for myself, for my family, and for my friends. I love visiting historical places and doing historical research. Although my children are grown with kids of their own I have remained a kid at heart and write Young Adult Fiction Contemporary and Historical stories. Although I would rather be playing on the beach with my grandchildren I am always compelled to create stories, poems, song lyrics, and even illustrations for my books.

Book preview

Part I

Young Napoleon

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Chapter I

Poor Petite Napoleon

Vocabulary

Petite  introduce  mademoiselle  madame

Monsieur  historian  bonjour  Corsica

OUI  Cheri  island  mere

"Bonjour! My name is Monsieur Pierre and may I introduce Mademoiselle Gigi. With the help of Gigi, I am going to tell the exciting true-life story of Napoleon Bonaparte's life. You see, Napoleon was my master. Gigi's mistress, Madame Josephine, was the love of Napoleon's life. (1)

"Once upon a time there lived a poor petite boy named Napoleon. (2) He lived on the petite island of Corsica. (3) He was petite for his age and his head was too big for his petite body. (4)

Oui, Pierre, but he also had beautiful sea-green eyes and reddish-brown hair, added Gigi.

Oui, but his different looks, Gigi, caused him a lot of pain for a long time. When he was still a petite boy, he had very few friends. No one liked him. They made fun of him. However, Napoleon had a temper! Once a big boy called him 'Shorty.' Well, Napoleon did not like being called names! He always stood up for himself, petite or not! So, he yelled back at the big boy, 'I am going to make you sorry you ever called me a name!' Well, Gigi, the big boy just laughed and laughed at the petite Napoleon.

Oh my, what happened, Pierre?

Don't worry about Napoleon, my cheri. He could take care of himself. He was not afraid of anything or anybody, except...his mere.

Madame Mere?

Oui, Gigi. She loved Napoleon, but when he did something wrong, she gave him a spanking. (5) Napoleon never wanted to make his mere angry!

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Chapter II

I Will Never Be A Loser

Vocabulary

Carthaginian eldest  soldier knack

protest general  breathless Roman

Napoleon had a big family. He loved them all very much. He might not have had many friends, but he was never lonely, Gigi. He had lots of brothers and sisters!

Do you remember all their names?

Oui, oui, Gigi. His older brother's name was Joseph. Napoleon was the second eldest child. Napoleon was followed by Lucien, Elisa, Louis, Pauline, Caroline, and Jerome!" said Pierre breathlessly. (6)

My, what a lot of brothers and sisters! No wonder he was never lonely, Pierre.

Oui, the boys had a good time playing army together up at the old fort. (7) Napoleon was always the 'general.' Sometimes his younger brothers would protest, explained Pierre.

You are always the general, Napoleon! It’s not fair, Joseph! I want to be the general! cried Lucien, Napoleons younger brother.

It’s okay, Lucien. Napoleon plays the 'general' the best, anyway. One day, who knows? He may become a 'real general!' said Joseph, who always stood up for his younger brother, Napoleon.

Did Napoleon always get his way, Pierre? asked Gigi.

Oui, Gigi. He had the knack of getting whatever he wanted. And Joseph always gave in to Napoleon's wishes. Once when they were in school together in Corsica, their teacher divided the class into two teams for a history lesson. Everyone on team A was a Roman, and everyone on team B was a Carthaginian. Well, Napoleon refused to be on team B!

No, I will not be a Carthaginian! They lost the war to the Romans. I will never be a loser! declared the upset Napoleon. (8)

Okay, Napoleon. I don't mind being a Carthaginian. You can have my spot on team A and be a Roman, said Joseph, giving in to Napoleon once again.

Chapter III

Breadcrumbs

Vocabulary

Handkerchief  delicious  future

Pierre, was it true that Napoleon always wanted to be a soldier? asked Gigi

Oui, mademoiselle. He never thought of becoming anything else! said Pierre. He told me the story about when his mere found out about his future wishes. His family was sitting at the dinner table together. Suddenly, Madame Mere noticed Napoleon's handkerchief.

Napoleon, what is THIS in your handkerchief? asked Napoleon’s mother, Madame Mere. (9)

Just breadcrumbs, Mere, answered Napoleon, looking down at his plate on the table.

BLACK breadcrumbs, Napoleon! I do not bake black bread! declared the unhappy Madame Mere.

I am sorry, Mere. I traded your delicious white bread for this bad-tasting black bread, admitted Napoleon, now looking up at his mother.

Why, Napoleon? Don t you like my bread? asked Madame Mere with tears in her eyes.

Of course, Mere. I love your bread. It is the best bread in all of Corsica! But if I am to grow up and become a soldier, I need to get used to eating the soldier’s black bread. So, I traded a soldier your delicious bread for his, explained Napoleon proudly.

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Chapter IV

Foreigner

Vocabulary

foreigner  officer  poverty  Spartan  cadet

military  governor  misery  schoolmaster

graduate  memory  survive  Scholarship

discipline  pere  Shiver  chatter

"Napoleon's pere wanted Napoleon's dream of becoming a soldier to come true. (10) So, Gigi, his pere went to the French governor of Corsica and asked him for a scholarship for Napoleon. (11)

Did Napoleon get a scholarship, Pierre?

Oui, and so did his older brother, Joseph. Joseph's scholarship was to a church school in France. Napoleons was to a French military school. (12)

Magnifique! Napoleon must have been so happy, Pierre!

Napoleon was still a little boy, Gigi. He was only nine years old when he left home. He did not speak French. (13) He was very homesick. Napoleon only saw his parents one time while he was away at school in France! (14)

Oh my, how sad! He must have been so scared. I am surprised his mere would let him leave home so young.

His mere whispered the word 'courage' into his ear as he left home. He needed courage when he met his new schoolmates. They made fun of him too! And this time, Joseph was not around to help Napoleon! (15)

Oh, poor petite Napoleon. Why did they make fun of him? asked Gigi.

"They laughed at his name, 'Napoleon.' They said his name wasn't French. Therefore, he must be a foreigner! They teased him