Betsy and Napoleon (Omnibus)

1815: Betsy Balcombe was 13 when Napoleon Bonaparte came to live in her garden on St Helena.

The two forged an extraordinary relationship.

Drawn from contemporary accounts, this drama by Julia Blackburn recreates the meeting of innocence and a great burden of experience.

As Betsy is the only one to speak French, she takes the role of intermediary between the Emperor and the islanders.

Omnibus of five parts.

Napoleon .... Alex Jennings
Betsy .... Michelle Tate
Balcombe .... Ian McNeice
Las Cases .... Rupert Wickham

Director Mary Ward Lowery

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in October 2005.