Empress Joséphine, capturing the complexities of her relationships and the significant events she witnessed. The opening of the memoir introduces the author’s lineage and the significance of her memoirs as perceived by her grandson, who prefaces the text. It outlines the author's early life, familial connections, and her arrival at court, establishing a backdrop of gradual political changes as the empire's influence waxed and waned. The opening also hints at the author's reflections on the political intrigues of the time, her nuanced view of Napoleon, and her personal struggles as she navigates the obligations and dangers of court life during a turbulent historical period. (This is an automatically generated summary.)