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The Murder of Napoleon
by Ben Weider and David Hapgood
- Used
- near fine
- Hardcover
- Condition
- Near Fine/Very Good
- ISBN 10
- 0312925484
- ISBN 13
- 9780312925482
- Seller
-
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
Presumably first edition.
viii, 266 p., [8] leaves of plates : ill.; includes Index (259-66). Quarter cloth hardcover with beige boards and dark red spine, with gilt lettering, in Fine condition with the exception of some light foxing to foredges. Dust jacket shows minor shelfwear, some minor warping, and a small <1" closed tear to rear, otherwise Very Good.
From the dust jacket:
HOW ONE DETERMINED MAN, WORKING ACROSS THE CENTURIES, EXPOSED A STUPENDOUS CRIME...
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.
The frame of the book is a gripping narrative of the Emperor's final years, in exile on the remote island of St. Helena. All Europe trembles at the thought that he might once again escape his captors and return to seize power. Then he mysteriously sickens, suffering bout after bout of extreme nausea, chills, weakness in the legs. . . .
But Napoleon's murderer does not work unobserved. In chapters that alternate with the historical chapters, a 20th century detective is closing in on the killer. He is Dr. Sten Forshufvud, a Swedish expert on poison. Reading the memoirs of Napoleon's valet, Forshufvud realizes that Napoleon's symptoms are not those of stomach cancer, the most commonly cited cause of death, but of arsenic poisoning. But how to prove it? Arsenic leaves traces in the hair, so somehow Forshufvud must obtain hairs cut from Napoleon's head at various times during the exile. The hairs—if he can find any that are authentic—will show exactly when the poisonings took place, and contemporary records will show who was always with Napoleon at those times. . . .
Readers will watch with fascination as Forshufvud, overcoming discouragements and opposition, ingeniously gathers his evidence. And they will look on with horror as, in the historical narrative, someone in Napoleon's entourage, posing as his friend, slowly poisons him.
BEN WEIDER is president of the Napoleonic Society of Canada, a member of the council of Le Souvenir Napoleonien in Paris, and owner of one of the most extensive private collections of Napoleonic memorabilia. He is a member of the Order of Canada, the highest civilian distinction awarded by the Canadian government.
DAVID HAPGOOD is editor of Focus, the magazine of the American Geographical Society. He has been a writer and editor for the News of the Week in Review section of The New York Times, and among his books are Africa from Independence to Tomorrow; The Screwing of the Average Man; and No Easy Harvest (with Max F. Millikan). His translation of Jean-Francois Revel's The Totalitarian Temptation won the Scott-Moncrieff Prize in 1978.
Jacket illustration, Paul Delaroche's "Napoleon l" en 1814, Musée de l'Armée, Paris
viii, 266 p., [8] leaves of plates : ill.; includes Index (259-66). Quarter cloth hardcover with beige boards and dark red spine, with gilt lettering, in Fine condition with the exception of some light foxing to foredges. Dust jacket shows minor shelfwear, some minor warping, and a small <1" closed tear to rear, otherwise Very Good.
From the dust jacket:
HOW ONE DETERMINED MAN, WORKING ACROSS THE CENTURIES, EXPOSED A STUPENDOUS CRIME...
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.
The frame of the book is a gripping narrative of the Emperor's final years, in exile on the remote island of St. Helena. All Europe trembles at the thought that he might once again escape his captors and return to seize power. Then he mysteriously sickens, suffering bout after bout of extreme nausea, chills, weakness in the legs. . . .
But Napoleon's murderer does not work unobserved. In chapters that alternate with the historical chapters, a 20th century detective is closing in on the killer. He is Dr. Sten Forshufvud, a Swedish expert on poison. Reading the memoirs of Napoleon's valet, Forshufvud realizes that Napoleon's symptoms are not those of stomach cancer, the most commonly cited cause of death, but of arsenic poisoning. But how to prove it? Arsenic leaves traces in the hair, so somehow Forshufvud must obtain hairs cut from Napoleon's head at various times during the exile. The hairs—if he can find any that are authentic—will show exactly when the poisonings took place, and contemporary records will show who was always with Napoleon at those times. . . .
Readers will watch with fascination as Forshufvud, overcoming discouragements and opposition, ingeniously gathers his evidence. And they will look on with horror as, in the historical narrative, someone in Napoleon's entourage, posing as his friend, slowly poisons him.
BEN WEIDER is president of the Napoleonic Society of Canada, a member of the council of Le Souvenir Napoleonien in Paris, and owner of one of the most extensive private collections of Napoleonic memorabilia. He is a member of the Order of Canada, the highest civilian distinction awarded by the Canadian government.
DAVID HAPGOOD is editor of Focus, the magazine of the American Geographical Society. He has been a writer and editor for the News of the Week in Review section of The New York Times, and among his books are Africa from Independence to Tomorrow; The Screwing of the Average Man; and No Easy Harvest (with Max F. Millikan). His translation of Jean-Francois Revel's The Totalitarian Temptation won the Scott-Moncrieff Prize in 1978.
Jacket illustration, Paul Delaroche's "Napoleon l" en 1814, Musée de l'Armée, Paris
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Details
- Bookseller
- The Mortuary Korps
(CA)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- 000198
- Title
- The Murder of Napoleon
- Author
- Ben Weider and David Hapgood
- Format/Binding
- Hardcover
- Book Condition
- Used - Near Fine
- Jacket Condition
- Very Good
- Quantity Available
- 1
- ISBN 10
- 0312925484
- ISBN 13
- 9780312925482
- Publisher
- Congdon & Lattès / St. Martin's Press
- Place of Publication
- New York, NY, U.S.A.
- Date Published
- 1982
- Keywords
- Napoleon I (1769-1821); Emperor of the French; Napoleon Bonaparte; death; burial; captivity; Murder; Saint Helena; History; 19th century; Kings and rulers; Biography; Biographies; arsenic poisoning; assassination; unsolved mysteries; investigation; forens
- Bookseller catalogs
- Science; True Crime; Mystery; Biography / Autobiography; Politics, Government, & Law; History; French; Medicine;
- Size
- 22
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A dark edifice standing only on this digital plane of existence, the Mortuary is devoted to all that is curious in the world: from medical oddities and the criminal mind to supernatural realms and dark fantasy.
All listings include multiple images. If you require more photographs in order to make a decision, do not hesitate to send a note. All images are included simply to exhibit overall condition of specific items and are removed from display as soon as item is sold; should there be a copyright-based objection to any image, simply contact The Mortuary Korps and we will happily removed the offending images immediately.
Offers are accepted on items that qualify for OA with Biblio, but you are also welcome to contact us directly with any offer and your reasons (be they personal circumstance or business) and we may offer the discount you desire (be it dollars or cents).
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Feel free to send us your special interests if you wish to be contacted directly when we find an item that may specifically interest you.
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