Two centuries after his downfall, Napoleon remains both revered and controversial in France — but above all, unavoidable.

Sotheby’s Paris is staging one of the most complete and high-profile Napoleon auctions in years — over 100 objects from the personal collection of French collector Pierre-Jean Chalençon.

Two centuries after his downfall, Napoleon remains both revered and controversial in France — but above all, unavoidable.

Alexander Ward is a national security reporter covering the White House and State Department for The Wall Street Journal in Washington.

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