#montholon

The Murder of Napoleon by Ben Weider and David Hapgood

Published in 1982, this book follows Sten Forshufvud (pronounced for-shoo-fut), a Swedish man with two great interests: science and Napoleon Bonaparte. His portion of the story begins in 1955 while the chapters switch back and forth between he and Napoleon during his exile.

Forshufvud had read Marchand's recently published memoirs and developed a theory that Napoleon had been poisoned. He learned of a new method of testing for arsenic poisoning, developed by Dr. Hamilton Smith in Scotland. Forshufvud then set out to find some samples of Napoleon's hair. Known, documented samples from his exile. He acquired some hair and sent it to Dr. Smith, without saying whom the hair had come from, so as not to skew the results. According to the tests, Napoleon's hair contained enough arsenic that Forshufvud was certain his theory was correct. He obtained several separate hair samples from reliable sources that corroborated with Marchand's detailed memoirs to the point that Forshufvud could pinpoint when the doses of poison were being given.

The next task, was to determine who the murderer was. Forshufvud believed that the only one with the means and the motive to poison Napoleon was none other than Charles-Tristan de Montholon. His theory was that Montholon only joined Napoleon in exile to kill him, an assassin for King Charles X, the former Count d'Artois. Why else would someone so otherwise loosely connected to the Emperor, voluntarily join in his suffering in exile? Why would he stay when those more loyal to Napoleon left or asked to leave? Why else would he turn a blind eye to his wife and the allegations that she was Napoleon's mistress?

(Now while all of this sounds good and convincing to me, modern science has proven that everyone back then would have higher levels of arsenic than people today from environmental factors. However, all of the symptoms and bouts of illness make sense to me, especially when lined up with the detailed descriptions of what Napoleon ate and when he was sick. I think for me to be 100% permanently convinced that Napoleon did not die of poisoning, they would need to open the sarcophagus again and study whatever is left.)

By Louis Charles Bombled

I’m curious on what ROs’ parents are/were like! Like their family backgrounds.

Spoiler Minefield. I'll give you a little something though. (Dark disturbing themes up ahead. Please be careful.)

Montholon Family

The Montholon family once ruled the four lands of Vathilia with an iron fist, but their reign was marked by greed and destruction. Artilius, born to a Chamberlain maid, witnessed his mother's tragic suicide due to the lustful advances of a powerful man who couldn't be satisfied with the countless beauties at his disposal.

Princess Alora Montholon, daughter of the empress, was caught in a compromising position with her own brother on the day of her coming-of-age ceremony. To save face, she was forced to marry her sibling, as the emperor believed a woman couldn't rule the country. The title of Crown Prince was bestowed upon Artilius, tasking him with producing an heir for the country of Nasmar.

Valenzuela Family

The Valenzuela family is part of a long and storied line of Zeniths, ancient beings born from the remnants of gods and goddesses. As such, they possess otherworldly abilities and a unique loyalty - they are bound to serve whomever sits upon the throne, without question or hesitation.

Glaurung and Levesque

[????????]

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1. The Introduction

Hello, dear Neighbors. Welcome back to Malmaison Media Salon. Oh look, we have an anniversary already!

In order to celebrate the occasion, I decided to post a long overdue review of “Napoleon’s Elysium” by Diane Scott Lewis. The book was actually brought to my attention by @suburbanbeatnik , who did the cover art for this particular edition of the book.

Now, usually I’m not the biggest fan of romance novels (not a dig at the authors, just not my thing), but this book was recommended by a mutual I trust, so I did give it a try. As for my impressions, we’ll get to them in a minute.

By the way, the book is currently available on Amazon and Kindle, but @suburbanbeatnik (to whom this review is dedicated) sent an EPUB version to me by email many months ago, so I didn’t purchase it.

Alright, now let’s get to the review!

2. The Summary

Amélie Perrault is a nineteen-year old daughter of a cook, who joins her father and the rest of the servants in order to share Napoleon’s exile on St. Helena.

Dreaming of becoming a successful erotica author, Amélie hopes to work on her novel in her spare time and uses the information she obtained from other novels in order to write the details of her story.

However, her unexpected feelings for the former emperor and a desire to find out who has been poisoning him complicate the situation in more ways than expected.

3. The Story

As I said, I’m not the biggest fan of romantic subplots or novels where romance is the main plotline, so imagine my surprise when I found myself finishing this book in one sitting!

The romance between Amélie and Napoleon is portrayed very realistically, considering the differences in age and social standing. Both aspects are things that other characters point out, and it’s very clear that Amélie and Napoleon are at very different stages of life.

Their bond evolves very naturally over time, without the story feeling like a bad fanfic. I would say that it is a very slow burn kind of romance.

Not to mention, I really enjoyed the detective plot line of investigating who is poisoning Napoleon and the adventure plot line involving his plans to escape.

Also, Amélie’s attempts to write her novel are very relatable. She wants to be strong and independent like her main character, but she is clearly a different person and is not the protagonist of her novel. I aspire to be an author too, so I definitely relate to the scenes of Amélie picking up ideas for her story or asking for advice on how to improve it.

Oh, and also there are a few characters who die in the novel, but they stay dead and these become very important plot points.

4. The Characters

Amélie Perrault wants to be a strong, independent woman, but luckily it doesn’t feel out of place for that time period. She just has ideas inspired by Enlightenment mixed with being young and a free spirit.

She is a very flawed, realistically written spunky young woman, but her heart is in the right place and she is one of the few people genuinely loyal to Napoleon.

Napoleon himself is definitely jaded, occasionally prone to outbursts and quite petty at times, but he doesn’t want Amélie to feel like she’s being taken advantage of and he genuinely loves her. In fact, it’s her idealism that inspires Napoleon to plan an escape from his exile instead of giving up.

Chef Perrault, Amélie’s father, is quite realistic too. He does believe in education for women, but he is still very protective of his daughter and at times still treats her like a child, which is understandable.

Count and Countess de Montholon are portrayed as traitors and ass-kissers.

Fanny Bertrand is a sweetheart who genuinely helps Amélie with her novel.

Clarice, another servant, is a bitch who starts out very shallow, promiscuous and rude towards Amélie, but then reveals information that helps the investigation of who is behind poisoning Napoleon.

Jules, the manservant of Montholon, is a fucking creep.

Ali, Napoleon’s personal servant, becomes a friend to Amélie and an ally who helps her navigate the environment of the St. Helena “court”.

5. The Setting

Fantastic writing and vivid descriptions of the island and other locations!

6. The Writing

The writing is sublime for the most part, but sometimes the characters drop phrases in French, which I did find a bit jarring when compared to the rest of the dialogue (which is obviously in English). We already know these characters are supposed to be French.

This is a minor issue for me though.

There is a case of the term “n*gro” being used towards the island’s black population, but we’re talking about the 19th century so it was to be expecte. It’s a dated term but I’m censoring it just in case it is triggering to anyone in the audience.

7. The Conclusion

Excellent book with realistic plot lines, colorful flawed characters, mostly great writing and vivid imagery that really sells the setting.I think I can definitely recommend it if you like historical romance.

Well, on this note, I declare this soirée concluded. Please stay tuned for future reviews!

Love,

A Madras scarf or Foulard believed to have been worn by Napoleon at St. Helena

Napoleon was known to wear head coverings. Doctor Barry O'Meara, Napoleon’s doctor on St. Helena, noted during his visit on 5th March 1817:

“On my return from Longwood, I found Napoleon in very different spirits from yesterday. He was reclining on his sofa, in a very positive attitude, his head resting upon one of his hands, and apparently melancholy. His morning gown was on, a Madras round his head and his beard unshaved.”

(Barry O'Meara, Napoleon in Exile or A Voice from St. Helena, 1822)

General Montholon, remarked on 13 April 1821 during the Emperor’s illness, less than a month before he died:

“The night was not so good, possibly because of the heavy sweating. Seven times I changed the Emperor, and each time flanelle and linen were soaked, until the madras of which he surrounds his head. These linen changes are very difficult to do without making him impatient, because he does not want to; no light in his room, there is only one candle in the next room, and that's the weakest glow of this light that I need, not to give it, but to give it everything it needs, even tie the madras on his head.”

Following the long-held practice of the Empress Josephine, Napoleon is known to have covered his head both day and night. Louis Constant Wairy, Napoleon’s valet, remarks in his memoirs of the Empress that her

“...hair was strong, beautiful, long and silky; its light chestnut hue blended admirably with that of her skin, dazzling with finesse and freshness. At the beginning of his supreme power, the empress still liked to do her hair in the morning with a red madras that gave her the look of Creole, the hottest to have.”

(Mémoires de Constant, premier valet de chambre de l'empereur, sur la vie privée de Napoléon, sa famille et sa cour, 1830)

Extract from a letter written by an officer of the 82nd Foot on board the Northumberland, now on St. Helena at The Briars.

From Gourgaud’s diary on 12 December 1816. Napoleon has written an effusive farewell letter to Las Cases, who is about to leave Saint Helena. The Emperor then makes the mistake of asking Gourgaud his opinion on the letter. (Any errors in the translation are mine.)

***

The Emperor then makes high praise for Las Cases. It seems like he is a martyr. After the reading, His Majesty asks me what I think. I give my opinion frankly, that this laudatory and tender style does not suit the Emperor towards M. de Las Cases, whom he has only known for a year or eighteen months and who has made no sacrifice for him, nor given him great proofs of devotion; I call for those for whom there is a real danger to be given thus, and that His Majesty had never written such a letter to an old and better friend, such as Duroc or Lannes.

The Emperor is upset, tells me that I am a child, that he doesn't ask my counsel on what he should do, but only if I think that such a letter will have some effect on Hudson Lowe. He rises. Mme de Montholon, her elbows on the table, cuts into the conversation, says that this letter is very good, that I am wrong to object to this or that! I observe to her that when His Majesty does me the honor of speaking to me, I pray Mme de Montholon to not interrupt me in my response. She continues nonetheless. And I am obliged to keep my mouth shut so I don't bring a disrespectful scene before His Majesty. His Majesty has Montholon read the letter, it was the valet Marchand who wrote it, with spelling mistakes. I don't breathe another word, since everyone approves. As the Emperor enters his cabinet for a moment, Montholon says to me: "All the better that the letter be thus, it proves that His Majesty will write similarly about us."

The Emperor, still angry, walks into the drawing room, then sits down, demands a pen and signs the letter, ending it with the words: "Your devoted." Las Cases owes me, in fact, some thanks, for, in cold-blood, His Majesty never would have signed it so; the letter is dated yesterday. Montholon is charged while bringing it to Poppleton with telling him that Bertrand was to have given it to him yesterday, but that being still ill, he had charged him with the commission. In case Poppleton wished to read the letter, Montholon must open it and write on it: "Open by order of Count Bertrand." I keep silent still. Montholon goes out and soon returns; Poppleton slept so deeply that he could not wake him, and handed him the letter the next day.

Montholon: Sire there is a ghost here.  Napoleon: What do you want me to do about it?  Ghost: *spooks around* Montholon: I’m telling the English! Napoleon:  Montholon: More sentries! We need more!  Napoleon:  Ghost: *spooks around still* Gourgaud: Sometimes I really hate you Montholon.  Napoleon: 

Montholon, who yesterday had reported to the Admiral that a ghost had been about the house, had foolishly requested the sentries to be posted nearer. During the night one of them comes to my window. I get up to find another at my door. 

In the morning, I tell Montholon that this is extreme foolishness, and if he is afraid of ghosts coming through his window he has only to shut it. We are too hemmed in as it is!