MOSCOW, January 23rd, 2004 (RIA Novosti correspondent) - The Russian version of French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin's book, Les Cent-Jours, ou l'Esprit de Sacrifice, has been presented in Moscow, Dominique de Villepin is not only a political figure but also a prominent researcher in history and literature, said Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov opening the presentation. In his opinion, the author "has managed to make his own contribution that will leave a trace in historical literature." French readers saw the book in 2001. It took 18 months to prepare the Russian version.
The book describes one of the most dramatic periods of Napoleon's rule. In 1815 when he abdicated in the wake the empire's collapse and the appearance of the anti-French coalition's troops in France, Napoleon was exiled to the Elba Island in Italy. But in March 1815 he regained the French crown with the help of his supporters. His second term lasted for only 100 days, and after the French defeat in the Waterloo battle by the British army, he gave up the throne again. Napoleon spent his last years on the St. Helen island as the Brits' POW.
