Author: WILLMS, JOHANNES
Title: Napoleon and St Helena : on the island of exile
Description: London : Armchair Traveller 2008. First Edition. An exceptional copy; fine in an equally fine dw. now mylar-sleeved. Particularly and surprisingly well-preserved; tight. bright. clean and especially sharp-cornered. Literally as new.; 8vo 8' - 9' tall; 231 pages; Physical desc. : 231 p. ; 16 cm. Includes index. Translated from the German. Subject: Napoleon I. Emperor of the French (1769-1821) --Captivity. 1815-1821 --Saint Helena --Description and travel --History. Summary: The island of St Helena. in the South Atlantic. is at one and the same time the most remote (more than 2000 km from the nearest major land mass) and most famous island in the world. due to it being the final place of exile of Napoleon Bonaparte. a role it was chosen for because of its very remoteness from Europe. St Helena had been settled by the British East India Company in the 17th century as a victualling station for ships on the long voyage to India via the Cape of Good Hope. The Duke of Wellington had stopped at the island on his way back from India. which lead him to recommend it as Napoleon's place of imprisonment after his defeat in 1815. which saw a massive boost in the island's economy as it housed a large British garrison. The years the former Emperor spent there before his death in 1821 saw intrigues among the French 'court in exile' and the creation of a Bonapartist myth of British victimisation that endures to this day. St Helena today is a unique colonial survivor. almost without an economy of its own. Lacking an airport. the only regular link is by the Royal Mail Ship St Helena. one of the last of her type. and the inhabitants are dependent on the support of the British government. Almost the only thing going for the island is its history. with what tourists there are attracted by Napoleon's last residence. now maintained by the French government. This fascinating book is truly an account of a visit to 'the last place on earth'. by Johannes Willms ; translated by John Brownjohn.Weight in Kg appr.:

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