The Last Interview of Napoleon Bonaparte by Erica M. Historian

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For this interview, I went to visit the St. Helena home of Napoleon Bonaparte. He was the former Emperor of France before he was exiled to this small island. He was to spend the rest of his life here. I was lucky enough to get this interview just a few days before his passing on May 5th, 1821. Erica M. Historian: Hello, Mr. Bonaparte. It is a pleasure to meet you. How are you this evening? Napoleon Bonaparte: Hello. I am doing very well, thank you. Erica M. Historian: May I call you Napoleon? Napoleon Bonaparte: You may, but I rather you call me Emperor. Erica M. Historian: Of course. So, what got you interested in a military career? Napoleon Bonaparte: Around the age of nine, my father had sent me to a military academy in Brienne, France (The Dublin Penny Journal 394). That experience lead me to a career in military and I then became an officer around 1785 (Encyclopedia 2001). Erica M. Historian: I know that you were promoted to a general rank in 1793. You were only twenty- four correct? That is a very young age to become a general. How did you achieve that? Napoleon Bonaparte: That is correct. I became a general by proving I was made to be a leader. I had a countless amount of energy and ambition. I learned how to make the best with what I had and take advantage of opportunities. I successfully defeated the British at the siege of Toulon. After that I even had a few astonishing victories as commander in chief for the army of Italy. This was one of my many achievements (Encyclopedia, 2001). Erica M. Historian: Some refer to you as a military genius. What do you think your most successful battle was? Napoleon Bonaparte: I would have to say the siege of Toulon because this battle really showed my military expertise. If I did no... ... middle of paper ... ...ee cents an acre or even leading my troops into a Russian winter. If I dwelled on my mistakes I made, I would never have time to reminisce about my great accomplishments. Erica M. I was lucky to get this interview when I did. Napoleon, once the Great Emperor of France, passed away just three days after this interview. He passed away on May 5, 1821 of stomach cancer but some believe it was arsenic poising. Most historians do not believe this theory. It was said his last wish was for his son to become emperor (Thompson 436). Works Cited "Napoleon Bonaparte." The Dublin Penny Journal 3.154 (1835): 393-94.JSTOR. Web. 03 May 2014. "Napoleon, Bonaparte." Encyclopedia of Nationalism: Leaders, Movements, and Concepts. Oxford: Elsevier Science & Technology, 2000. Credo Reference. Web. 4 May 2014. Thompson, J. M. Napoleon Bonaparte. New York: Oxford UP, 1952. Print.

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