Author: [European History]. Abell, Mrs. [Lucia Elizabeth Balcombe, 1802 - 1871]
Title: RECOLLECTIONS Of The EMPEROR NAPOLEON, during the First Three Years of His Captivity on the Island of St. Helena: Including the Time of His Residence at Her Father's House, "The Briars"
Description: London: John Murray, Albemarle Street, 1844. First Edition. Original green publisher's cloth lettered in gilt and with gilt emblem to front board, same emblem stamped in blind to rear board, bees stamped in blind to boards and in gilt to spine. xii, 251, [1], [16, ads] pp. B/w engravings. 8vo. 8-1/4" x 5". Wear and slight fraying to extremities; sunning and modest soil to case; light foxing to beginning and end leaves, and occasionally throughout; gutter break at pp 120. Text clean and bright overall. Good condition. A solid copy of this first edition from Napoleon's most famous friend at St. Helena. Abell was 13 years old when her father invited Napoleon to stay at "The Briars" while Longwood was being readied for him; she became one of his closest friends and admirers. "Even a look, a tone of the voice, a gesture, in an unreserved moment, will give an insight into the real disposition, which years of a more formal intercourse would fail to convey; and this is particularly the case in the association of a person of mature age with very young people. There is generally a confiding candour and openness about them which invites confidence in return, and which tempts a man of the world to throw off the iron mask of reserve and caution, and to assume once more the simplicity of a little child. This, at least, took place in my intercourse with Napoleon . " (p 233). Institutionally common, though somewhat scarce in the trade, especially in acceptable collectible condition, as here.

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