Primary sourceBook1844
Recollections of the Emperor Napoleon on St Helena
Lucia Elizabeth Abell (née Balcombe) · 1844
A memoir by Lucia Elizabeth Abell, who as a young girl knew Napoleon when he stayed at her family's home on St Helena.
Recalls Napoleon's exile on St Helena from personal, firsthand childhood memory of his stay at her family's home.
PDF · 292 pagesAbout this source
What it is
This book, published in 1844, was written by Mrs Abell (born Elizabeth Balcombe), recalling the first three years of Napoleon's captivity on St Helena, including the time he spent living at her father's house, known as The Briars.
Why it matters
Because Abell knew Napoleon as a child during his exile, her recollections offer a personal and informal view of him, different from official or political accounts. It shows how even a young girl's household could become part of the story of a deposed emperor's final years.
Look closer
- Why might a child's memories of Napoleon differ from an adult official's account?
- What does the preface suggest about why Abell decided to publish her memories?
- How reliable might memories written many years after the events be?
This book is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Napoleon Bonaparte on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.
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