“Shining example”, “very loving”. Louis Sarkozy’s rare confidences about his father, Nicolas.

On the eve of his 27th birthday, Louis Sarkozy is preparing to publish his first book of history, called Napoleon’s library. The Emperor, His Books, and Their Influence on the Napoleonic Age and written in English. And this, despite the fact that he is not a professional historian. A few weeks before the publication, scheduled for May 30, the son of Nicolas Sarkozy and Cecilia Attias gave a rare interview to a British magazine. Tatler . He tells journalist Isaac Zamet about his fascination with former French emperor Napoleon, but also about his personal life, and in particular his moments at the Elysee Palace, where he spent much of his childhood when Nicolas Sarkozy was president. Republic: “It’s absolutely crazy,” enthuses the young man, who today lives with his wife, Natalie Husich, in Washington. “What is the statistical probability that you were born to such a boy? It is wonderful. I hit the jackpot in the lottery.”

A privileged childhood

Louis Sarkozy was 10 years old when his father Nicolas was elected President of the Republic and took up residence at 55 rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré on the Élysée. But the boy is not too impressed. Indeed, he got used to power and its privileges from a very young age. “My first memories were of the Ministries of Internal Affairs and Economy. It was normal for me. I hate to say it, but it was. Bodyguards, chiefs and ministers enter and exit large settlements. “It’s the epitome of privilege and luck,” the young man admits in retrospect.

However, at the time he was not aware of the advantages that his life in the upper part of the state gave him. “I remember when I was a kid, at the Elysée, I had a room where I kept all my Legos. It was the abandoned dining room, right next to the president’s kitchens and right next to the place called “Winter Hall“, which is a small room. There was a letter in Napoleon’s frame. But I didn’t care. I didn’t look at it, I was too busy with my Legos. It wasn’t really until I started doing research for this book [Napoleon’s Library : The Emperor, His Books and Their Influence on the Napoleonic Era, NDLR] that I remembered that Napoleon lived at the Elysée before and after the campaign of Waterloo in 1815.’

Daddy’s boy

During his interview Tatler, Louis Sarkozy also talks about his close relationship with his father, Nicolas, from whom he is very inspired. “Many people tell me about people who were crushed by the weight of their parents’ success. I never understood. I had a shining example of what can be done in life thanks to a father who was very loving, in every way, and who gave me the benefit not only of his resources but also of his wisdom. And would that be a disadvantage? I do not understand”. A “son” visibly at peace with him and his father.