| |
| |
EDITORIAL WHAT A YEAR IT'S BEEN!
Over the last year we have hardly seen the time pass, and indeed we have relived in your company, dear readers, some powerful moments: a first abdication and a first enforced stay on an island; a dramatic escape from Elba, an astonishing resurgence through France, a triumphant return to Paris and a now legendary Belgian campaign. But it's not yet over, there still remains for the Emperor to embark for St Helena "this weekend" (with a small detour via the English Riviera) ...
This last letter of the 2014-2015 season is indicative of what we've been trying to do for years, with our websites (napoleon.org, Napoleonica.la Revue), to reveal the players of Napoleonic history, to study and deepen our knowledge of the events, to challenge preconceptions ... Far from celebrating victories or defeats, we study history.
So it's time to (re) discover the Empress Eugenie, whose death occurred on 11 July, 1920. “What a novel my life has been!” she may have thought, during her long life. She was born in Spain in 1826, and married Napoleon III in 1853, bore a son to the Napoleonic dynasty in 1856, enjoyed the splendour of the Second Empire, rolled her eyes many times during Merimée's dictations at parties in the Palais de Compiegne, and inaugurated the Suez Canal in 1869, the same year in which she obtained the enrolment of the first ever woman at a French medical school, Madeleine Bres. She acted as Regent of the Empire and then saw it fall in 1870. With her family exiled to England, she survived the Emperor Napoleon III by 47 years and indeed her only son (who died in South Africa in 1879) by 41 years.
This last letter will also remind you of exhibitions not to be missed, of activities of the summer, as well as the highlights of the season.
We are pleased to announce our brand NEW FACEBOOK PAGE IN ENGLISH, which, together with our homepage, will enable you to keep in touch with news and events in the Napoleonic world during the months of July and August! (Don't forget to sign up and tell your friends about it!) See you on 4th September for the first bulletin of the new season!
The whole Fondation Napoleon team wishes you a great summer!
FONDATION NAPOLÉON
The Fondation Napoleon and its Library will be open all summer
The Bibliothèque Martial-Lapeyre library will be open from Tuesday 7 July to Friday 28 August: Mondays and Tuesday from 1pm to 5pm and Thursday from 10am to 3pm. Closed: Wednesday and Fridays.
|
|
|
|
|
| |
EXHIBITION > COURTLY TREASURES: THE COLLECTION OF THOMAS W. EVANS, SURGEON DENTIST TO NAPOLEON III
From 18 July to 8 November 2015, the University of Pennsylvania's Arthur Ross Gallery is presenting an exhibition of over 135 artworks, from the collection of the Philadelphia-born dentist who served the French court of Napoleon III. Dr Evans assembled a premier collection of paintings, sculpture, furniture, and decorative arts including artifacts that represent Napoleon III and the Empress Eugénie. Drawn from the University Art Collection, the exhibition offers exclusive highlights from the Evans Collection seen for the first time in 48 years.
FONDATION NAPOLEON STUDY GRANTS 2015
Every year the Fondation Napoléon encourages the study of the First and Second Empires by awarding six research grants to six French or non-French students in the first year of their PhD (or MPhil intending to go on to PhD) on a First or Second Empire subject. Each research grant is worth 7,500 Euros, and applications must be sent before 30 September.
MODIFICATION OF CONDITIONS FOR OUR HISTORY PRIZES
The Fondation Napoléon has recently enlarged the historical periods for which History Prizes can now be awarded. More information here.
|
|
|
| |
EXHIBITION > ANTHONY BURGESS AND NAPOLEON BONAPARTE
The Anthony Burgess Foundation in Manchester (UK) presents an exhibition (until 31st July) looking at some of the material relating to Napoleon Bonaparte held in the Burgess Archive. The exhibition contains prints from Burgess's art collection, rare books from the library, manuscripts of Burgess's Napoleon projects and more. The British writer and composer Anthony Burgess was fascinated by Napoleon, and after Stanley Kubrick adapted his novel “A clockwork Orange” for the screen, Burgess began work on a novel which he hoped Kubrick would use for the film he was planning about the life of Napoleon. Andrew Biswell, director of the Anthony Burgess Foundation, reports on the aborted project only now seeing the light of day (external link).
Kubrick's Napoleon film was never made but Anthony Burgess's novel was published in 1974 as “Napoleon Symphony”, and has been re-edited recently by Serpent's tail in the UK and W. W. Norton & Company, in the USA.
RADIO PLAY > The novel has been adapted as a play “Napoleon Rising” recently broadcast on BBC Radio 3, which you can listen to online for 3 more days! (external link)
|
|
|
| |
REMINDER > SUMMER EXHIBITIONS
As you can see from the list in the right-hand side of this bulletin, there's a multitude of exhibitions across Europe and beyond, celebrating the Napoleonic world in all its dimensions… art, war, science, town planning, medicine …
Here are a few highlights not to be missed:
“Napoleon et Paris” is at the Musée Carnavalet until 30 August. Read more about it in our interview with Thierry Sarmant, or read this article (external link) Discovering Napoleon in Paris with Philippe de Carbonnières.
And if you're in Paris why not take a journey back in time with these historic maps of Paris between 1770 and 1820 which have just been made available online.
'Alexander, Napoleon and Josephine: a story of war, art and friendship' is at the Hermitage, Amsterdam, The Netherlands until 8 November 2015.
'Napoléon Ier ou la légende des Arts, 1800 –1815' at the Palais de Compiègne, France, is extended until 9 August.
MUSIC > FESTIVAL BERLIOZ "SUR LES ROUTES NAPOLEON"
From 20 to 30 August: Festival Berlioz celebrates the Bicentenary year on the theme “Sur les routes Napoléon”, with among other events a musical banquet and a day of musical gatherings along the route that Napoleon took through the Isere on his return from Elba.
|
|
|
| |
ONLINE > THE CASSINI MAP OF FRANCE
> La carte de France 'Cassini' (1756-1815) is now available in high definition on the website of Gallica (external link in French)
200 YEARS AGO > FROM THE BRITISH COAST TO ST HELENA.
On 15 July, Napoleon embarked with an entourage of fifteen people on board Bellerophon. The boat then headed for Great Britain arriving in Torbay and then Plymouth Sound on the 26th, where Napoleon waited on board while the British government came to a decision about his place of exile (Castlereagh pleaded for provisional detention in Scotland). On 31 July, the decision was announced: it was to be the island of St Helena. On 4 August, Bellerophon left Plymouth with Napoleon still on board, whence he was transferred to Northumberland which would begin the long journey to St. Helena, on 7 August.
150 YEARS AGO > ALGERIA AND FRENCH CITIZENSHIP
On 20 June 1865, ten days after his return from his second voyage to Algeria (see letter no. 756), Napoleon III sent an 88-page letter to the Governor General, Maréchal de Mac-Mahon, outlining his plans for Algeria, re-affirming it as “this country which is both an Arab kingdom, a European colony and a French military camp”, stating his desire to “reconcile the colonists and the Arabs”. The land, rights, laws and religion of the Arabs were to be respected, but the Arabs were French, and those who requested it could “unconditionally [be] invested with the rights of French citizens”.
Seven copies of the letter were to be distributed confidentially to specific persons. However its contents were leaked in Paris and then appeared in the Algerian press, causing much emotion among the European community in Algeria, who felt that the Emperor's plans gave too many rights to the indigenous peoples. Mac-Mahon had reassuring articles published in the official papers and obtained an audience with the Emperor in order to discuss the situation. He would himself send a 59-page reply to the Emperor on 11 August, 1865, after having met with representatives of the French army in Algeria and the government. However, already by 14 July, a sénatus-consulte (link in french) declared that the indigenous Muslims and Jews were French but would continue to be governed by the laws of their religion. They could serve in the army and take up civil functions in Algeria. They could on request become full, French citizens on the condition (promulgated later by the decree of 27 December, 1866) that they renounce their adherence to the Coranic laws (which were partly incompatible with French laws, in particular regarding polygamy) which for a Muslim amounted to apostasy. Indeed, over the next century, fewer than 3,000 Muslims chose to cross the barrier and become French citizens. This important law would remain in place until 1943.
Wishing you an excellent Napoleonic week!
Peter Hicks and Rebecca Young
THE NAPOLEON.ORG BULLETIN No. 767, 10 JULY - 3 SEPTEMBER, 2015
Interested in the work of the Fondation Napoléon? Why not participate, either generally or in a specific project, by making a donation?
© This Napoleon.org weekly bulletin is published by the Fondation Napoléon. Reproduction or all or part of this bulletin is forbidden, without prior agreement of the Fondation Napoléon
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
WATERLOO BICENTENARY 1815-2015
What's on this year relating to the Bicentenary of the Battle of Waterloo: commemorations, books, exhibitions, news ...
WATERLOO > WHAT'S ON (updated 10/7/15)
WATERLOO > SEEN ON THE WEB (updated 10/7/15)
WATERLOO > READING LIST (updated 10/7/15)
Follow us on our new English-language Facebook page and on Twitter!
napoleon.org - related content:
JUST PUBLISHED
SIMNER, Mark, An Illustrated Introduction to the Battle of Waterloo (London 2015)
- BROWN, Colin, 'The Scum of the Earth': What Happened to the Real British Heroes of Waterloo? (London 2015)
- LEGGIERE, Michael V., Blücher: Scourge of Napoleon (Campaigns and Commanders Series) (Oklahoma, 2014)
- LEGGIERE, Michael V., Napoleon and the Struggle for Germany: The Franco-Prussian War of 1813, Volume 1. The War of Liberation, Spring 1813 (Cambridge, 2015)
- LEGGIERE, Michael V., Napoleon and the Struggle for Germany: The Franco-Prussian War of 1813 (Cambridge Military Histories) Volume 2: The Defeat of Napoleon (Cambridge, 2015)
PRESS REVIEW
- Three Reviews of "Napoleon Symphony" by Anthony Burgess
WHAT'S ON (see our website for all events)
Talks
- 'The Women of Waterloo: From Ballroom to Battlefield' - a NAM talk by Dr Catriona Kennedy Army and Navy Club, London, UK [23/07/2015]
- 'Commemorating Waterloo 1815-2015', by Dr Russ Foster, Lakeside Arts, Nottingham, UK [05/08/2015]
- Conversazioni napoleoniche 2015: a Waterloo, 200 anni dopo Lucca, Italy [17/08/2015 - 19/08/2015]
Conferences
- 'Popular Reactions and State Responses to the 100 Days' University of Warwick, UK [07/07/2015]
- Endings and Beginnings: The World in 1815, Brussels, Belgium [06/07/2015 - 10/07/2015]
- 'Die Schlacht von Waterloo 1815 und die deutschen Truppen' Bomann-Museum, Celle, Germany [19/09/2015]
Exhibitions
- Anthony Burgess and Napoleon Bonaparte International Anthony Burgess Foundation, Manchester, UK [11/06/2015 - 31/07/2015] NEW
- Fallen Emperor: Napoleon in Plymouth Sound in 1815, Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery, UK [23/05/2015 - 26/09/2015] NEW
- Pierre-Paul Prud'hon: Napoleon's Draughtsman Dulwich Picture Gallery, London, UK [23/06/2015 - 15/11/2015] NEW
- Napoleon's Last Gamble: Bicentenary of the Battle of Waterloo and the Legacy of the Napoleonic Wars in Australia, Pine Rivers Heritage Museum, Australia [01/05/2015 -12/07/2015] LAST DAYS
- 'La beauté de la guerre. Waterloo 1815-2015' Bibliothèque Royale, Brussels, Belgium [17/06/2015 - 15/09/2015]
- 'Waterloo and the March of Science', Herschel Museum of Astronomy, Bath, UK [18/06/2015 - 13/12/2015]
- 'Unseen Waterloo: The Conflict Revisited', Somerset House London UK [12/06/2015 - 30/08/2015]
- Braine-L'Alleud 1815: au chevet des blessés, Braine-L'Alleud, Belgium [06/06/2015 - 06/09/2015]
- 'Immer wieder Napoleon...!' (Napoleon in film), Bomann-Museum Celle, Germany [07/06/2015 - 30/08/2015]
- '"Victory Sir, Victory!" Henry Percy and the Battle of Waterloo, 1815', Alnwick Castle, Northumberland, UK [18/05/2015 - 30/10/2015]
- Charging against Napoleon - Wellington's campaigns in the Peninsular Wars and at Waterloo University of Nottingham, UK [22/05/2015 - 06/09/2015]
- 'Waterloo 1815: The Art of Battle' Royal Armouries Museum Leeds, UK [22/05/2015 - 23/08/2015]
- 'Napoléon dans les plaines de Fleurus' Château de la Paix, Fleurus, Belgium [22/05/2015 - 02/08/2015]
- '"A damned serious business": Waterloo 1815, the battle and its books' Cambridge University Library, UK, and online [01/05/2015 - 16/09/2015]
- 'Wellington and Waterloo: "the tale is in every Englishman's mouth"' University of Southampton Library, UK [13-24 July 2015] LAST DAYS
- 'The Road to Waterloo' and ‘Waterloo Lives' Gordon Highlanders Museum, Aberdeen, Scotland [03/02/2015 - 28/11/2015]
- 'Waterloo' at the Bomann-Museum, Celle, Germany [02/04/2015 - 11/10/2015]
- 'Napoleon und Bayern' Bayerisches Armeemuseum, Ingolstadt, Germany [30/04/2015 - 30/10/2015]
- 'Napoléon Ier ou la légende des Arts, 1800 –1815' Compiègne, France [24/04/2015 - 09/08/2015] extended until 9 August
- 'Waterloo 1815 - The Battle for Peace' at Wellington Arch and new display at Apsley House London UK [18/04/2015 - 30/12/2015]
- 'Napoléon et Paris, rêves d'une capitale' Musée Carnavalet, Paris [08/04/2015 - 30/08/2015]
- 'Le congrès de Vienne, l'invention d'une Europe nouvelle' Musée Carnavalet, Paris, France [08/04/2015 - 30/07/2015] LAST DAYS
- 'Napoléon-Wellington: Destins Croisés' Wellington Museum, Waterloo, Belgium [21/03/2015 - 31/07/2015] LAST DAYS
- Waterloo 1815-2015: Visions of war' Bibliothèque Paul Marmotton, Paris, France [15/04/2015 - 30/07/2015] extended until 30 July
- 'Alexander, Napoleon and Josephine: a story of war, art and friendship' Hermitage, Amsterdam, The Netherlands [28/03/2015 - 08/11/2015]
THE BIBLIOTHÈQUE MARTIAL-LAPEYRE FONDATION NAPOLEON LIBRARY HOLIDAY OPENING: from Tuesday 7 July to Friday 28 August:
Mondays and Tuesday from 1pm to 5pm and Thursday from 10am to 3pm. Closed: Wednesday and Fridays.
Online database catalogue
Digital Library
Contact
NAPOLEONICA LES ARCHIVES
Site of digitised Napoleonic archival material:
The working papers or 'imprimés' of the Napoleonic Conseil d'Etat, the correspondence of Vivant Denon, etc.
http://www.napoleonica.org
Contact: napoleonica@napoleon.org
NAPOLEONICA. LA REVUE
International peer-review interdisciplinary e-review on the history of the two Empires, bilingual French-English, 3 issues per year, free access.
Read the review on Cairn.info
Contact: napoleonicalarevue@napoleon.org
The Fondation Napoléon's Institutional website:
www.fondationnapoleon.org
ACCOUNT DETAILS
To change your email address, unsubscribe, and sign up for the French information bulletin.
Problems with a link in this letter?
- Check the homepage on: http://www.napoleon.org/en/home.asp
- View back numbers of the bulletin: http://www.napoleon.org/en/space/information_bulletin/archive_lettre.asp
- Contact us: information@napoleon.org
|
|
