THE ESCAPE FROM ELBA: THE FALL AND FLIGHT OF NAPOLEON 1814-1815. by Mackenzie, Norman - 1982

Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1982. 299 pp, large 8vo (9 1/2" H). B&w plates. "(I)n this gripping full-length account of his first exile we see Napoleon not as the Man of Destiny but scaled down to human size, his field of action no longer the whole of Europe but the comic-opera kingdom of Elba. Even on this tiny island the habits of power persisted, and Napoleon acted the role of the great commander, the lawgiver, the patron of the arts and sciences, and in all his dealings revealed himself as an egotist of great personal charm. (The author's) account of his year in exile is an exciting story of plot and counter-plot, of careless statesmen, political intriguers, dissident soldiers, and secret agents. Napoleon's waiting game on Elba is played against a background of unrest in France, muddle in England, and warlike quarrels among the Allies trying to redraw the map of Europe at the Congress of Vienna." Dust jacket has one small closed tear archivally taped, light rubbing, some soft wrinkling at top edge, minor edge browning.. Hard Cover. Very Good+/Very Good.