13

A Highly Polished People

By Sir Stamford Raffles

Stamford Raffles, Lieutenant-Governor of Java, urged London to bypass our European partners and trade directly with Japan.

14

Retreat from Moscow

By Clay Lane

The fear that Russia might make an ally of Great Britain drove the would-be Emperor of Europe to extreme measures.

15

The War of 1812

By Clay Lane

In the year that Napoleon’s quest for European Empire faltered at Moscow, President Madison of the USA came to his aid.

16

Faraday al Fresco

By Walter Jerrold

Michael Faraday’s tour of Europe included a ‘picturesque’ multicultural event on the slopes of Mount Vesuvius.

17

Ode to English Joy

By Clay Lane

Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony was commissioned by a fiercely independent Britain, and Beethoven was excited to oblige.

18

The Sneeze of History

By Leo Tolstoy

It was the opinion of Leo Tolstoy that even Napoleon was never master of his own destiny.