Napoleon's Last Island
A Novel
eBook
- 2016
The bestselling author of Schindler's List and The Daughters of Mars returns with a remarkable novel about the friendship between a quick-witted young woman and one of history's most intriguing figures, Napoleon Bonaparte, during the final years of his life in exile on St. Helena—hailed by the New York Times Book Review as "insightful and nimble...consistently fresh and engaging...call[ing] to mind the giants of 19th century fiction."In October 1815, after losing the Battle of Waterloo, Napoleon Bonaparte was banished to the island of Saint Helena. There, in one of the most remote places on earth, he lived out the final six years of his life. On this lonely island with no chance of escape, he found an unexpected ally: a spirited British girl named Betsy Balcombe who lived on the island with her family. While Napoleon waited for his own accommodations to be built, the Balcombe family played host to the infamous exile, a decision that would have devastating consequences for them all. In Napoleon's Last Island, "master of character development and period detail" (Kirkus Reviews) Thomas Keneally recreates Betsy's powerful and complex friendship with the man dubbed The Great Ogre, her enmities and alliances with his remaining courtiers, and her dramatic coming-of-age. Bringing a shadowy period of history to life with a brilliant attention to detail, Keneally tells the untold story of one of Europe's most enigmatic, charismatic, and important figures, and the ordinary British family who dared to forge a connection with him.
Explore Further
Subject Headings

Loading...
Comment
Add a CommentFor an author whose masterpiece is Schindler's List, I found this book a bit pedantic even though the subject matter does catch the reader's attention.
As I was unfamiliar with the topic I found the first 50 pages a bit tiresome and confusing and nearly gave up reading. But as soon as Napoleon appears on the scene the story became very engaging and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Very interesting read.
A fascinating historical novel written by a master wordsmith.