Napoleon in Exile; or A Voice from St. Helena by O'MEARA, Barry E - 1822

London: W. Simpkin and R. Marshall,, 1822. Being the Opinions and Reflections of Napoleon on the Most Important Events of his Life and Government, in his Own Words. 2 volumes, octavo, (205 × 122 mm). Contemporary pale green polished calf, red morocco titling and numbering pieces, author's name gilt direct to the tails of the spines, flat spine, compartments formed by double rules each with large, bold serif Ns, foliate corner-pieces, single fillet panels to the boards, the upper boards with a centrally placed bold N in a roundel formed of repeated drawer handle and palmette tools, marbled edges and endpapers. Portrait frontispiece, and one other plate to each. A little rubbed overall, spines slightly sunned, some foxing and browning to the prelims and offset from the frontispieces, else a very good set in an unusual and highly appealing provincial binding. First edition, much reprinted but decidedly uncommon thus. "Tulard 579 accounting for O'Meara's partiality to Napoleon on account of his Irishness. This view is supported by O'Meara's deportment at the end of his life when he became an active member of O'Connell's Reform Club. But that was after he had been lionised by Byron and other admirers. At this stage of his life O'Meara displayed a different sort of Irishness: already drummed out of the army in 1807 for duelling, he was drummed out of St. Helena in 1818 for openly and repeatedly slandering Sir Hudson Lowe" (Sandler).