" Dr Richardson weaves a fast-paced story involving all the characters who arrived on the island and who had some part to play in Napoleon's health, including the role of the Admiral Plampin's mistress! While this lady herself was not responsible for what happened or didn't happen, it was her presence on the island as the admiral's mistress that had such a malignant effect on the course of history... The Apocalypse of Napoleon Bonaparte is a very readable, informative and thought-provoking study of a period of Napoleon's life (and death) that has been the subject of much controversy over the years. The medical analysis presented here is logical and well-thought out. This book is a valuable addition to the story, and a good read as well. Recommended." First Empire "For those interested in medical history, this book by Robert Richardson is an excellent read... This beautiful book is remarkably detailed, extremely well researched and gives rise to multiple intrigues which surrounded Napoleon's latter life." The Ulster Medical Society Journal ---- Fuller text below from the review by the The Ulster Medical Society Journal: "For those interested in medical history, this book by Robert Richardson is an excellent read. Robert Richardson, who qualified in medicine at Oxford University, has become a freelance medical editor and has written a number of books on medical and surgical history. This book is a splendid insight to the latter years of Napoleon Bonaparte. It is superbly researched and gives remarkable detail of Napoleon's medical illnesses, especially in the latter years of his life. There is a remarkable chapter (Chapter 19) on the postmortem performed on 6th May 1821 of Napoleon... The remainder of the chapter describes the intrigue and the various versions of Napoleon's cause of death by those who surrounded him and the historians of that time (and following)... It was he who requested (demanded) that he should have an autopsy for the benefit of his son... It was stated that, throughout his illness, he never complained and kept his character to the last! This beautiful book is remarkably detailed, extremely well researched and gives rise to multiple intrigues which surrounded Napoleon in latter life. For the serious students of medical history, the book is well referenced. I can recommend this book for those wanting a gentle read through medical history and a contemporaneous view of the times of the latter years of Napoleon. I would also recommend it for the student of medicine beginning his or her studies as an insight into the medical times of Napoleon and the remarkable description of his illness and of his autopsy in particular. I enjoyed reading this text and can recommend it to a wide readership". Professor Roy A J Spence The Ulster Medical Society Journal
