The Tragedy of St. Helena

"The Tragedy of St. Helena" by Sir Walter Runciman is a historical exploration that aims to re-frame understandings of Napoleon Bonaparte’s final years on the island of St. Helena. The account contrasts initial, negative perceptions of Napoleon with the author's later, more compassionate understanding, shaped by detailed research into the emperor's exile. The book argues that Napoleon was treated unfairly, especially under the watch of Sir Hudson Lowe, and it proposes that this mistreatment will eventually be seen as a major ethical lapse by the British. The narrative begins by examining how early opinions of Napoleon were formed and transitions into a compelling assertion of the human injustices he suffered.