A Sweet Way to Commemorate Napoleon's Short-Lived Triumph


Napoleon Returned from Elba, by Charles Auguste Guillaume Steuben 


Have you ever enthusiastically embarked on something, only to realize later it wasn’t such a good idea? I know I have, which is why I’m thinking about Napoleon Bonaparte. 

This March marks the two-hundred-year anniversary of Napoleon’s ill-fated attempt to reclaim his empire after being exiled to Elba. He escaped Elba and sailed to France, landing on the French coast on March 20, 2015. His next move was to head for the capital city, gathering troops still loyal to him on his way.

Though initially it looked like Napoleon might succeed (they loved him in Paris), it didn’t work out so well for him. About 100 days after his triumphant return he literally met his Waterloo and was defeated in the battle of the same name in Belgium. As a punishment for his presumption (and breaking the terms of his first exile) he was once again sent into exile - this time to St. Helena, a barren rock off the coast of Africa. Napoleon's captors wanted to make sure the former Emperor was re-exiled as far as possible from Europe, to discourage any further escape attempts.  

As exile spots go, St. Helena might sound more posh than Elba. But in reality Elba, in a Tuscan archipelago off the coast of Italy, was a Mediterranean resort compared to the volcanic island of St. Helena. It was on St. Helena that Napoleon died at age 51 in 1821, most likely of stomach cancer.

The island of St. Helena in 1812


One way to commemorate the anniversary of Napoleon's return to France in 1815 is to indulge in a sweet pastry treat called a “napoleon.” It’s a dessert with a long history, and most likely not originally named for the Emperor. That association may have come later, and the pastry may actually owe its name to the Italian city of Naples. But who cares? It’s delicious. And a few bites just might encourage you to get your hopes up and believe, like Napoleon did, that you can accomplish anything.

You can buy a napoleon at a good French bakery. Or you can try to make one of your own, from a recipe like this one on Spruce Eats.

Bon appétit! 







All the images in this post are courtesy of Wikimedia Commons



The Pleasures of Pride and Prejudice



Title page from the book's first edition in 1813


It’s been years – decades, really – since I’ve read Pride and Prejudice, and since I’m currently between books (I try to always have at least one on my nightstand for bedtime reading) I decided to pick it up again. And I'm glad I did.

Over the years I’ve seen many TV and movie adaptations, especially the 1995 television mini-series featuring Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth (who is still my favorite Mr. Darcy) and the 2005 movie starring Keira Knightly and Matthew Macfadyen.  

There have been even more television and movie productions of Jane Austen’s story that I haven’t seen, plus some I'm likely to skip, such as Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, a comedy/horror movie based on a book of the same name. This film is due to come out later this year and will star Lily James, better known as Lady Rose in Downton Abbey. I’m sure it will be a great production. I’ve just never been able to stomach zombies (too much blood and brains for me).

So, like many people I know the basic story of Pride and Prejudice fairly well. But I’m finding it’s truly delicious to read about Elizabeth Bennet and her family in Jane Austen’s own words. 

Jane Austen, an 1869 engraving based on a sketch
by her sister Cassandra


Here are some things I forgot about this book that I’m rediscovering:


  • The chapters are short, making the plot very brisk and easy to read.
  • Though the words were written over 200 years ago in England, there’s nothing old or musty about the prose. Austen’s gifts as a writer and her knack for pacing and character development make the story as fresh as anything written today.
  • It’s fun!

For an unusual introduction to this novel, click on this episode of Thug Notes, an American educational video series. The makers of Thug Notes aim to take classical literature out of the academic realm and make it more accessible and relevant to a wider audience. So far the series includes 67 books, and it’s had over 8 million views on YouTube. 





I should warn you - some of the language is bleeped, and other parts probably should have been. But I believe this short video is a worthy addition to the reams of books, films and other media that Austen’s work has generated, especially if it draws new readers in. What do you think?


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