From Publishers Weekly
In this extraordinary revisionist history, a sequel to Waterloo, British historian Hamilton-Williams offers a startling new perspective on Napoleon Bonaparte's rise and fall. Drawing on untapped archival material, he presents evidence that the British government, determined to eliminate Napoleon, established a secret organization, Chevaliers de la Foi (Knights of the Faith), headed by pliable Charles-Philippe, Count of Artois, heir to the Bourbon throne (and later Charles X of France). Aided by his network of fanatical royalists, Charles orchestrated armed insurrection and several abortive attempts to assassinate Napoleon, all with British approval and financing. Hamilton-Williams also unearths details of how Austrian Prince Metternich and British Foreign Secretary Robert Castlereagh, in concert with French Arch-Chancellor Talleyrand, in 1814 clandestinely plotted Napoleon's downfall, using subversion, paid agitators and financial panic to promote the reactionary Bourbon cause in Paris. The aim was to make France a dependent ally. Among those who betrayed Napoleon was his long-time comrade and friend General Charles Tristan, Count of Montholon, who was Charles X's agent and who, by this account, murdered Napoleon by arsenic poisoning on St. Helena in 1821. Illustrated. Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From Library Journal
This second volume in a trilogy following Waterloo: New Perspectives (LJ 10/1/94) explores the political and diplomatic intrigues carried out by France's enemies-Britain, Russia, Austria, and Prussia-while at the same time describing the military campaigns of 1813, 1814, and 1815 and the deceit and treachery of those surrounding Napoleon himself. A dedicated Bonapartist, British historian Hamilton-Williams spares no one in exposing the double and triple crosses perpetrated by such leading figures as Castlereagh, Talleyrand, Davout, and Fouche to bring about the restoration of the Bourbon Louis XVIII and the murder of Napoleon. An in-depth account is given of the "White Terror" that swept France in the aftermath of Waterloo, resulting in the execution of many of the emperor's ex-marshals and generals. Highly recommended for public and academic libraries.David Lee Poremba, Detroit P.L.Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From Booklist
Hamilton-Williams begins his account of an oft-related sequence of events with Napoleon's 1813 campaign but emphasizes the 1814 campaign, first abdication, and exile to Elba, then the Bourbon restoration. He continues with a summary of the return that ended at Waterloo and concludes with Bonaparte's death (arguably an assassination by poison) on St. Helena. He is always sympathetic, indeed almost Bonapartist, toward Napoleon and, considering the documented plots and conspiracies against Napoleon by the British and their allies as well as the Bourbons, does arouse the feeling that the French emperor was sinned against as well as sinning himself. The sections dealing with covert operations make particularly gripping reading, so much so that this book definitely pleases, and the news that Hamilton-Williams' next book will be a history of espionage and terrorism in the Napoleonic era pleases, too. Roland Green


Book Description
Praise for The Fall of Napoleon

"A well-researched and original history. . . . Hamilton-Williams tells a stirring story, revealing much new material." —Kirkus Reviews

"[Hamilton-Williams] is a fine writer and a ferocious logician. He has written a fascinating, if controversial, book." —Washington Times

"A dedicated Bonapartist, British historian Hamilton-Williams spares no one in exposing the double and triple crosses perpetrated." —Library Journal

In The Fall of Napoleon, David Hamilton-Williams offers a fresh and striking new assessment of the cause and effects of the Emperor's decline. Using substantial new research, the acclaimed author calls into question many of the views established in Napoleonic literature to date. Filled with fascinating details on the diplomatic intrigues linking Britain, Austria, Russia, and Prussia in the quest for Napoleon's demise, this riveting account reveals surprising new information on previously unknown secret terrorist organizations, assassination attempts, and the unbridled political duplicity that led to the French ruler's fall from power.


The publisher, John Wiley & Sons
The second book in Hamilton-Williams' Napoleonic trilogy provides a fascinating study and fresh assessment of the cause and effects of Napoleon's decline. Traces his illustrious career and diplomatic intrigues involving Britain, Austria, Prussia and Russia, the combined forces--friend and foe--ranged against him, as well as self-inflicted problems. Discloses previously unknown secret terrorist organizations and attempts to assassinate Napoleon. Includes scores of illustrations and maps.


From the Back Cover
Praise for The Fall of Napoleon

"A well-researched and original history. . . . Hamilton-Williams tells a stirring story, revealing much new material." —Kirkus Reviews

"[Hamilton-Williams] is a fine writer and a ferocious logician. He has written a fascinating, if controversial, book." —Washington Times

"A dedicated Bonapartist, British historian Hamilton-Williams spares no one in exposing the double and triple crosses perpetrated." —Library Journal

In The Fall of Napoleon, David Hamilton-Williams offers a fresh and striking new assessment of the cause and effects of the Emperor's decline. Using substantial new research, the acclaimed author calls into question many of the views established in Napoleonic literature to date. Filled with fascinating details on the diplomatic intrigues linking Britain, Austria, Russia, and Prussia in the quest for Napoleon's demise, this riveting account reveals surprising new information on previously unknown secret terrorist organizations, assassination attempts, and the unbridled political duplicity that led to the French ruler's fall from power.


About the Author
DAVID HAMILTON-WILLIAMS, Bt., B.Sc., ARHist.S, is a respected Napoleonic researcher. His work on the letters of William Siborne—a core element in the research for his first book, Waterloo: New Perspectives—is accepted as unique and revolutionary by leading academics in the field. Mr. Hamilton-Williams lives in West Sussex, England.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

This important study of the cause and effects of Napoleon's removal from power tracks the significant events in his illustrious career through to his downfall and, while doing so, charts the clandestine diplomatic intrigues linking Britain, Austria, Russia and Prussia in the quest for the Emperor's demise. Using substantial new research, David Hamilton-Williams questions many of the established views presented in Napoleonic literature to date. By disclosing hitherto secret terrorist organizations, uncovering the attempts to assassinate Napoleon, highlighting unbridled political duplicity, and demonstrating a host of previously misinterpreted signals and actions, he instigates a fresh assessment of the fall of Napoleon, new reasons to consider how much it was self-inflicted and how much it became inevitable given the combined forces - 'friend' as well as 'foe' - ranged against him. However great his military campaigns, how often he was victorious on the battlefield, Napoleon was destined to be deposed by political connivance and personal betrayal. This volume is the second of a trilogy by David Hamilton-Williams. In Waterloo: New Perspectives he shed new light on the greatest battle of all, causing historians to reappraise their opinions and revise their maps; in The Last Battles: Napoleon, Murat and the Italian Campaign he reviews the chequered partnership between the Emperor and the commander he made King of Naples.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

In this extraordinary revisionist history, a sequel to Waterloo, British historian Hamilton-Williams offers a startling new perspective on Napoleon Bonaparte's rise and fall. Drawing on untapped archival material, he presents evidence that the British government, determined to eliminate Napoleon, established a secret organization, Chevaliers de la Foi (Knights of the Faith), headed by pliable Charles-Philippe, Count of Artois, heir to the Bourbon throne (and later Charles X of France). Aided by his network of fanatical royalists, Charles orchestrated armed insurrection and several abortive attempts to assassinate Napoleon, all with British approval and financing. Hamilton-Williams also unearths details of how Austrian Prince Metternich and British Foreign Secretary Robert Castlereagh, in concert with French Arch-Chancellor Talleyrand, in 1814 clandestinely plotted Napoleon's downfall, using subversion, paid agitators and financial panic to promote the reactionary Bourbon cause in Paris. The aim was to make France a dependent ally. Among those who betrayed Napoleon was his long-time comrade and friend General Charles Tristan, Count of Montholon, who was Charles X's agent and who, by this account, murdered Napoleon by arsenic poisoning on St. Helena in 1821. Illustrated. (Mar.)

Library Journal