On April 20, 1814, after a dizzying series of battles, campaigns, and diplomatic intrigues, a defeated Napoleon Bonaparte made his farewell speech to the Old Guard in the courtyard of the Chateau de Fontainebleau and set off for exile on the island of Elba. Napoleonic legend asserts that the Emperor was brought down by foreign powers determined to destroy him and discredit his achievements, with the aid of highly placed domestic traitors. Others argue that once Napoleon's military defeats began in 1812, his fall became inevitable. But in fact, as Munro Price shows in this brilliant new book, Napoleon's fall could have been avoided altogether.

This story is based on Verne's book, The Steam House. The Steam House is divided into two sections, called The Demon of Kanpur and Tigers and Traitors.

 

A reward of two thousand pounds will be paid to anyone who will deliver up, dead or alive, one of the prime movers of the Sepoy Revolt. He is commonly called Nana Sahib.

While much is known about Hugh le Despenser and his role in the downfall of King Edward II, history tends to overlook the woman behind the man. Susan Higginbotham takes this on in her novel of Eleanor le Despenser, The Traitor's Wife.

We meet Eleanor prior to her being married to Hugh, as a repayment of a debt owed by her father. Her uncle has just become King Edward II and Piers Gaveston is the "favorite" at this time, and he is returning from exile. Rumors of the nature of their true relationship run amouk through the court...