"Claude François Meneval ( 2 April 1778 - Paris ? 18 June 1850 - Paris , buried in the cemetery of Montmartre ), private secretary of Napoleon I and his closest collaborator of 1802 to 1813 , was a diarist of the nineteenth century."--Wikipedia.
This work had a large hand in shaping modern Biblical criticism. Using the German form of criticism in his own day Renan goes through the Gospels and examines the miracles and other aspects of the life of Jesus. Although the work denies the divinity of Christ, this documents role in shaping how we work with the Bible is significant.
Struggle for Empire explores the contest for kingdoms and power among Charlemagne's descendants that shaped the formation of Europe through the reign of Charlemagne's grandson, Louis the German (826 876)."