to retain power in the face of overwhelming opposition. The opening of the work sets the stage by establishing the context of necessity for a truthful recounting of Napoleon's final months, as many narratives emerging post-empire were shaped by partisan perspectives. The author references the loss of Napoleon's empire and endeavors to document events chronologically, drawing from his firsthand experience witnessing key moments. The narrative begins with Napoleon's return to Paris in 1813, outlining his active measures to rally the nation for defense and explore peace negotiations with the allies, setting up a backdrop of impending conflict and historical significance. (This is an automatically generated summary.)