Gilbert Martineau (1918–1995)

5326. Napoleon's St. Helena, by Gilbert Martineau Translated from the French by Frances Partridge (read 23 Nov 2015) This book by a French naval officer who spent a lot of time living on St. Helena was published in 1966 and in 1968 in English. It tells well the story of Napoleon's time on the island (15 Oct 1815 till his death on 6 May 1821). The author is sympathetic to Napoleon and censorious toward Sir Hudson Love, the English governor of the island who was so fearful that Napoleon would escape--as he had from Elba--that he was very strict and persnickity toward his prisoner. There were 3000 troops and many ships which were there strictly to see that Napoleon did not escape. One can feel a bit sorry for Napoleon as it was a dreary and inhospitable place. After a couple years Napoleon's health declined--the book gives much detail as to such--and medical attention to him was not very good--but such was not very good in those days for anybody. I found his book held my attention throughout.… (mere)

"A boy's best friend is his mother." In this case, the boy is the remarkable Napoleon Bonaparte, "Emperor of the French" and prototypical "great man of History," for better and for worse. The mother is the equally remarkable Letezia Ramolino Buonoparte (1751(?)- 1836), Corsican housewife, mother of eight rambunctious children, widow at age 38, and model of the quietly shrewd Mediterranean matriarch.

Nicely written biography, coming in under 200 pages - though quite clearly author Gilbert Martineau (who was for many years offical French consul on St. Helena) is strongly biased in Napoleon's favor. Just because "Madame Mere" overlooked her son's faults doesn't mean that 21st century readers should.… (mere)