Although at that time I had, in common with others, anti-Napoleonic ideas, I was impressed by the views of the sailors. Later in life, when on the eve of a long voyage, nearly forty years ago, I happened to see Scott's "Life of Napoleon" on a bookstall, and being desirous of having my opinion confirmed, I bought it. A careful reading of this book was the means of convincing me of the fact that "Boney _was_ ill-treated," and this in face of the so-called evidence which Sir Walter Scott had so obviously collected for the purpose of exonerating the then English Government. The new idea presented to my mind led me to take up a course of serious reading, which comprised all the "Lives" of Napoleon on which I could lay my hands, all the St. Helena Journals, and the commentaries which have been written since their publication. As my knowledge of the great drama increased, I found my pro-Napoleonic ideas increasing in fervour. Like the Psalmist when musing on the wickedness of man, "my heart was hot within me, and at the last I spake with my tongue." I may here state in passing that there is no public figure who lived before or since his time who is surrounded with anything approaching the colossal amount of literature which is centred on this man whose dazzling achievements amazed the world. Paradoxical though it may appear now, in the years to come, when the impartial student has familiarised himself with the most adverse criticisms, he will see in this literature much of the hand of enmity, cowardice, and delusion and, as conviction forces itself upon him, there evolve therefrom the revelation of a senseless travesty of justice. I offer no apology for the opinions contained in this book, which have been arrived at as the result of many years of study and exhaustive reading. I give the volume to the public as it is, in the hope that it may attract in other ways to a fair examination of Napoleon's complex and fascinating character. WALTER RUNCIMAN. _December 3, 1910._ CONTENTS CHAPTER I THE ABODE OF DARKNESS CHAPTER II THE MAN OF THE REVOLUTION--CRITICISM, CONTEMPORARY AND OTHERWISE CHAPTER III THREE GENERATIONS: MADAME LA MERE, MARIE LOUISE, AND THE KING OF ROME CHAPTER IV THE OLIGARCHY, THEIR AGENTS AND APOLOGISTS CHAPTER V MESDAMES DE STAEL AND DE REMUSAT CHAPTER VI JOSEPHINE CHAPTER VII RELIGIOUS NOTIONS OF NAPOLEON BIBLIOGRAPHY LIST OF EVENTS AND DATES HAVING REFERENCE TO NAPOLEON BONAPARTE INDEX CHAPTER I THE ABODE OF DARKNESS In Clause 2 of his last will, dated Longwood, April 15, 1821, the Emperor Napoleon states: "It is my wish that my ashes may repose on the banks of the Seine, in the midst of the French people whom I have loved so well." At London, September 21, 1821, Count Bertrand and Count Montholon addressed the following letter to the King of England:--