Historical Sketches

We all know that Napoleon lost the battle of Waterloo. Less known is his rocanbolesque escape from the field of the lost battle to the French West Coast.

After an introduction about the series, in this episode we will follow Napoleon and his restricted court to the town of Berry-au-Bac, where momentous decisions were taken.

This is the second episode of Napoleon's flight after the defeat at Waterloo on June 18, 1815. We follow his travel from a remote country town in Northern France up to Paris where he takes shelter in the castle beonging to his ex-wide Josephine de Beauharneais. Maybe the Paris government will re-instate him and ask him to continue the fight against the European Allied Forces, that are at the door of Paris. But this is not to be and here, in the castle of Malmaison, Napoleon and company decide to escape to the United States, which it was not to be.

"Historical Sketches" is a series of 28 minute films covering a historical period, a nation, a character, or providing curious knowledge and anecdotes that do not find their way in to text books. Each sketch is a fascinating mosaic of history that can peak the viewers curiosity and add to their knowledge. Art work and other images are added to give pleasure to the eye while entertaining the mind. We need history to understand the present and nurture the future. As Shakespeare would say 'may all the number of the stars give light to thy fair way.'