Elba is an island in Italy located in the Tyrrhenian Sea off Italy's western coastline. This island is now technically a part of the Italian region of Tuscany. This specific 86-square-mile island is relevant to Jane Austen's Persuasion in its connection to Napoleon. The character Mr. Shepherd from this novel mentions Elba in connection to "This peace" (57). The peace he speaks of is a result of Napoleon being abdicated in 1814 and subsequently exiled to the island of Elba between 1814-1815; he arrived on the island on May 4. The footnote on this page of our Broadview version interestingly states that Jane Austen would have known that Napoleon escaped from this place of exile in March 1815, though the book's characters are none the wiser. This footnote also takes into consideration that Napoleon was ultimately bested in June of that same year. Though exiled, Napoleon still possessed a limited amount of power, essentially ruling the island as an "independent principality" until he escaped. This Italian island is now a popular tourist spot, sporting several high-end resorts and historical sites connected to Napoleon.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. “Elba.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., https://www.britannica.com/place/Elba-island-Italy.