In 1817 he returned to the memoirs .
It was while in Rome at the close of 1803 that Chateaubriand decided to write his memoirs ; however , he did not begin writing them until 1809 , and even then demands from other projects slowed his progress .
In 1817 Chateaubriand returned to the memoirs .
It was while in Rome at the close of 1803 that Chateaubriand decided to write his memoirs ; however , he did not begin writing them until 1809 , and even then demands from other projects slowed his progress .