All pages are age toned w light foxxing to first 3 pages including frontipiece and its tissue guard. For josephine, like napoleon, leaves one somewhat breathless. He wrote a romance novel called clisson et eugenie. He was crowned emperor of the french in 1804, forging his status as europes most powerful man at the time. In 1796, the luxuryloving josephine, born to an aristocratic family and widowed as a result of the french revolution, accepted the awkward, newly renowned napoleon with reluctance. This is a fascinating account of the empress josephine, born rose tascher on the island of martinique she was also known as yeyette but was called by the name of rose when she first married. Life empress josephine first wife napoleon abebooks.
I found it fascinating to read actual correspondance between key players of the time, and to hear different viewpoints on josephine s or napoleon s actions, since my only previous reference is the historical fiction that ive read. As williams summarises her existence, she was a mistress, a courtesan, a revolutionary heroine, a collector, a patron and an. Although eventually married to the colossus of her age, josephine bonapartes life was dramatic and eventful before ever meeting napoleon. Napoleon was but a poor, insignificant army officer. By john schneider editor of editor of napoleonic literature.
His books have been published in britain, the united states, france, germany, spain, italy, holland and belgium. He quickly falls in love with josephine and creates what seems at times a one sided love. When napoleon, blinded by passion and dazzled by josephines apparent influence in powerful political salons, insisted upon marriage, she accepted only with the greatest reluctance. Napoleon and josephine by evangeline bruce librarything. It marked the instantiation of modern empire and was a transparently masterminded piece of modern propaganda. Bruce does an excellent job of portraying both napoleon and josephine with all of their human foibles and thus allows us to see them as people rather than just historical figures. The story of their courtship and marriage and napoleons dramatic rise is always fascinating given the background of the french revolution.
A gifted, knowing, and subtle storyteller, aronson crowns in conflict, 1986. The bibliography is a great reference tool and cites sources from both sides of the debate on napoleon the monster napoleon the saint. Shortly before the ceremony of coronation which would crown him and josephine as emperor and empress of france, napoleon gave his wife a copy of the old book and bade her read the prophecies contained therein, which, he told her, certain men had said pertained to him. Acclaimed authors gerald and loretta hausman weave together the stories of napoleon and josephine and their turbulent love affair in this lavish and beautifully written novel.
Josephine was well aware that her marriage was in trouble and tried to reconcile the relationship at all costs. Napoleon became a general at a very young age and was put in a position of authority where the generals and almost all other officers he commanded were older than him. Permanently closed napoleon and josephine restaurant. Po book plate to ffep and very small vintage bookstore sticker to front pastedown, ow interior free from any other markings or tears. Napoleon was a ruthlessly ambitious young army officer in need of a wife with a fortune. Napoleon and josephine by evangeline bruce, hardcover. Walks through napoleon and josephines paris diana reid. When josephine finally went to join napoleon in paris, having missed his return from the campaign in egypt, he refused to see her. Josephine, crowned by napoleons hand as empress of the french, was a fascinating woman whose political and cultural influence has only recently begun to be recognized. Or book now at one of our other 10936 great restaurants in west hollywood. After their marriage, napoleon was said to have kept a picture of her in his pocket which he would plant many kisses on every passing hour.
Josephine, consort of napoleon bonaparte and empress of the french. Meet queen desiree clary napoleon bonapartes first love. The books wealth of detail about the relationship of the everintriguing couple offers a rich panorama of the exhilarating and violent time on which they left their mark. The love letters napoleon sent josephine got pretty hot and steamy. Napoleon bonaparte 17691821, also known as napoleon i, was a french military leader and emperor who conquered much of europe in the early 19th century. But napoleon broke it off after meeting another woman, josephine, whom he eventually married in 1796, making her an empress.
In this account of the relationship between napoleon bonapart. This is the incredible rise and unbelievable fall of a woman whose energy and ambition is often overshadowed by napoleons military might. Then you can start reading kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer no kindle device required. Endowed with legendary charm, josephine was not only napoleons consort and great love, but a significant contributor to his rise to power and imperial designs. Napoleon valued science and education, and sponsored and encouraged both pursuits. Full text of napoleons letters to josephine, 17961812. In her first book, historian bruce reconstructs the lives, courtship and marriage of napoleon and josephine with a wealth of details.
From those early days in paris to the bitter divorce in 1809 the couple kept in touch through intimate letters. Josephine napoleon s wife the greatest heroines of history best historical biography audiobook pierre dejoue. Napoleons greatest love would come from the caribbean island of martinique. Neither was faithful, and bonaparte finally annulled the bond in 1809 on the pretext that josephine was barren. Enter your mobile number or email address below and well send you a link to download the free kindle app. Napoleons first wife, josephine, is the ancestor to much of todays european royalty, even though she. I received my copy from my grandmother, and its dated to 1934, published by garden city publishing co. Napoleon chose divorce so he could remarry in search of an heir. Rheinhardt english version by caroline fredrick is, as you can imagine, a biography on the life josephine, the wife of napoleon bonaparte, the emperor. Josephine retreated to her country house at malmaison while napoleon raged about divorce and refused to see her, so she rounded up her children and the three of them stood weeping outside his door. Despite his divorce from josephine, napoleon showed his dedication to her for the rest of his life. Bruce, widow of a noted american diplomat, david bruce, delves into josephine and napoleons lesserknown private relations. This is a book that readers of historical fiction could enjoy. And although napoleons marriage was certainly not the whole story of his extraordinary life, it was one of the most fascinating aspects of it.
They met in a paris ravaged by revolution and despairing of war. This is an excellent history book and a good story. This biography of the marriage between josephine and napoleon bonaparte helps to round out my reading of the fictional accounts of josephine. Set against the pomp and splendor of prerevolutionary france.
Many of the books written on him are, quite frankly, beyond appallin. As josephine grows up on the tropical island of martinique, she dreams of moving to paris to live a life of glamour. Napoleon must balance being a conquerer and being a husband. Top 10 amazing facts about napoleon bonaparte youtube. Inspire a love of reading with prime book box for kids discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new books every 1. There have been more books written about him since days have passed since he died. To live through josephine that is the story of my life. It is known that josephine did not love napoleon as much as he loved her, and that it took her years before she warmed to his affections. The army of the rhine had been disbanded, and ney had bought a modest farm in lorraine. He was madly in love with her and tormented by her affairs while he was away on campaign. Josephine was also a great spendthrift, and her financial excesses nearly brought an end to her marriage.
December 12, 1791 was only 18 when she married napoleon he was then 40, and she was jealous of her predecessor. Though napoleon hoped he could introduce his two wives, it was not to be. Napoleon and josephines passionate romance played itself out on the stage of the most beautiful city in the world. A love story and millions of other books are available for amazon kindle. The acclaimed biography of josephine bonaparte, the caribbeanborn creole who became the first wife of napoleon and empress of france. In this account of the relationship between napoleon bonaparte and his wife, josephine, the author has incorporated recent findings that include a new view about napoleons parents, josephines love letters to hippolyte charles and speculations about napoleons complex sexual orientation. This vibrant dual biography uses the marriage of napoleon and josephine as the frame through which to view a time of cataclysmic change. The love affair of napoleon and josephine was so explosive their passionate letters have been immortalised in countless books and films there are said to be more books about napoleon than any. She became the first empress of france, but he divorced her in 1810 and married marielouise of austria.
After josephines original husband is killed in the french revolution by the guillotine, she seeks a new husband and finds one in napoleon. In delormes view, the marriage between napoleon and josephine remains one of the great romances of history, only lightly marred by napoleon s extramarital amours and his divorce and remarriage to the archduchess marielouise for dynastic reasons. The love letters napoleon sent josephine got pretty hot. And although napoleons marriage was certainly not the whole story of his extraordinary life, it was. Armand assante and jacqueline bisset star as napoleon bonaparte and his faithful wife josephine in this television. In this triumphant biography, kate williams tells josephines searing story, of sexual obsession, politics. The famous composer beethoven was going to dedicate his 3rd symphony to napoleon, but changed his mind after napoleon crowned himself emperor. Josephine was a sensual and debtridden widow in search of a wealthy protector. Get menu, photos and location information for permanently closed napoleon and josephine in west hollywood, ca. When he heard the news of her death while on exile in elba, he locked himself in. While josephine was willing to cultivate cordial relations with marie louise, the latter was not about to reciprocate.
26 1152 1381 658 541 1182 1164 67 782 1032 1067 371 1505 499 445 680 1394 1001 1118 169 782 512 1333 273 1327 998 1420 340 171