Napoleon's British visitors and captives, 1801-1815

"Napoleon's British Visitors and Captives, 1801-1815" by John Goldworth Alger is a historical exploration of British individuals who traveled to or were detained in France while Napoleon Bonaparte was in power. It examines the intricate web of relationships that formed between British guests and French residents to reveal the period's social dynamics and political undercurrents. The book begins by detailing the widespread disruption of people throughout Europe caused by the French Revolution, especially among the nobility. Then it emphasizes the increase in British people going to France during the Peace of Amiens in 1802, as they were keen to see the changes in France after the revolution. It sets the scene to show historical context by highlighting the social and political contacts that occurred between British guests and French society, as well as the difficulties experienced by those unexpectedly imprisoned under Napoleon's rule.