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William Warden - Letters of Napoleon Buonaparte, 1817

William Warden (Alyth, 1777 - 1849, Chatham)

Letters written on board His Majesty's ship the Northumberland, and at Saint Helena; in which the conduct and conversations of Napoleon Buonaparte...are faithfully described and related, 1817

Printed ink on paper , 14.9 x 8.9 x 1.9 cm (5 7/8 x 3 1/2 x 3/4 in.)

Commentary

While attending finishing school in Paris during the 1850s, Isabella Stewart Gardner was captivated by French literature, culture, and history. Of particular note is her interest in the former French emperor, Napoleon Bonaparte. Evidence of her affinity for Napoleon are scattered throughout her museum, including her book collection. This particular book chronicles the voyage of Napoleon Bonaparte on board the HMS Northumberland to the island of St. Helena, the location of his second and final exile in 1815. But this book written by William Warden, the surgeon on board the Northumberland, was actually acquired by Isabella's grandfather-in-law, Samuel Pickering Gardner and later passed into her hands.