Recollections Of The Emperor Napoleon, During The First Three Years Of His Captivity On The Island Of St. Helena
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Recollections Of The Emperor Napoleon, During The First Three Years Of His Captivity On The Island Of St. Helena
The Battle of Waterloo had been lost.
Louis XVIII had been restored to the French throne and Napoleon would never again rule France.
He was sent to live out his days on the small island of Saint Helena in the Atlantic Ocean.
Whilst in exile Napoleon befriended the British family, the Balcombes, of which Elizabeth, nicknamed Betsy, was the youngest.
He was a frequent guest at the Balcombe’s house, the Briars, and even lived with them whilst his residence, Longwood House, was being restored.
Betsy’s unique memoir of her time with Napoleon portrays the French leader not as the ruthless general of the battlefield but instead as a personable gentleman who enjoys the company and jokes of the teenage girl.
Over the months that Betsy lived on St. Helena with Napoleon they developed a firm friendship and she was able to gain remarkable insight into the world of this former terror of Europe, from his taste for liquorice to his distaste for English music.
Recollections Of The Emperor Napoleon is a fascinating account of Napoleon Bonaparte after he had fallen from power, it is essential reading for anyone wishing to read about the more human side of this famous nineteenth century leader.
Betsy Balcombe befriended Napoleon during his last years on St. Helena. She was thirteen at the time of his stay at her house. She affectionately called Napoleon “Boneyâ€. Much has been written about Napoleon and Betsy, and a number of films have also been made. This book was published in 1844 and she died in 1871.