'I congratulate you on your research efforts and dedicated work' Ben Weider, founder of the International Napoleonic Society When Napoleon Bonaparte was exiled to the remote island of St. Helena after his defeat at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815 he took with him twenty-four people, including his doctor, servants and four of his Generals. One of the Generals, Count Henri-Gatien Bertrand, was Napoleon's Grand Marshal of the Palace. Count Bertrand was accompanied by his wife Countess François-Elisabeth (Fanny)Bertrand and their three children. Tall,elegant and aristocratic the Countess was a feisty and beautiful young woman who had shone in French Society. She hated the island of St. Helena 'the Devil shit this place as he flew from one continent to the other' she said on her arrival. But loyal to her husband she stayed by his side until Napoleon's death on 5th May 1821 and was at the ex-Emperor's bedside when he died. I chose the genre of a diary to tell Fanny's story of those five and a half years in an attempt to bring history alive. Every detail has been carefully researched from primary source, unpublished manuscripts in the British Library and from Count Bertrand's own diary written at the time. It is an accurate, factual, detailed and fascinating account of the reality of life at Longwood between 1815 and 1821. Read Napoleon's views on the Battle of Waterloo 'I still cannot conceive how the Battle was lost.'His opinions on religion and on his wives; about plans to escape from St. Helena and the truth regarding Napoleon's health. Learn of Napoleon's irrational reaction when Fanny refuses to become his Mistress, and what actually happened at that last fateful meeting between Napoleon and the Governor Sir Hudson Lowe. Finally, read the moving account of Napoleon's death as Fanny and her children sit at his bedside, the harrowing details of Napoleon's autopsy, and Napoleon's extraordinary funeral. As a modern contrast, scattered through Fanny's 'diary' are occasional chapters about my own life on St. Helena living in Bertrand's Cottage at Longwood. They reveal the very special nature of St. Helena and the wonderful warmth of the Saints who live there.

The history books say that Napoleon died of natural causes. Napoleon himself, expiring at 51 after a lifetime of robust health, suspected otherwise and ordered a thorough autopsy. His suspicions were well-founded. So clever was the crime, however, that until recent developments in forensic science, it was impossible to prove a case of murder, let alone name the killer. Now, the authors of this fascinating book assert, it has been done-by a brilliant man whose 20-year inquest, a feat of detection, has produced one of history’s greatest surprises. What the critics say: "History at its most electrifying" - Newsweek "A nonfiction whodunit based on modern scientific technique" - New York Times "A spellbinding whodunit about one of history's greatest crimes" - History Book Club "Sensational ... as gripping as a detective novel yet scrupulously observant of historical fact" - Publishers Weekly "Thoroughly convincing... A major Odyssey in historical research" - Harold C. Deutsch, professor of military history, U.S. Army War College

This vintage book comprises a fascinating collection of Bonaparte's letters; selected, translated, and edited by J. M. Thompson. This anthology forms one of the most truthful and interesting collections of historical documents pertaining to the famous French military and political leader - Napoleon Bonaparte. It offers the reader an interesting and unparalleled insight into his mind and personal life in 292 letters. The letters contained herein include: 'The Brothers', 'His Father's Death', 'The Corsican's Patriot', 'History of Corsica', 'Brothers Louis', 'The Young Jacobin', 'Paris in Revolution', 'Heroics', 'Brother's Joseph', 'Paris Life', 'Fatalism', 'Whiff of Grape-Shot', 'First Night', 'Separation', etcetera. Many antiquarian books such as this are becoming increasingly hard-to-come-by and expensive, and it is with this in mind that we are republishing this text now in an affordable, modern edition - complete with a specially commissioned new biography of the author.