Marie Louise, the eighteen-year-old daughter of the Austrian emperor, is married to Napoleon Bonaparte after he divorces Josephine because she cannot give him an heir. Michelle Moran narrates events from the perspective of Marie Louise's family and of Napoleon's sister Pauline, covering the new empress's arrival in Paris, the tension in the court, and the birth of her son. Marie Louise must reconcile duty to her family with her unexpected feelings, and the jealous Josephine remains a presence nearby.
It is for readers who enjoy historical fiction about European courts and who liked Moran's earlier novels about queens and empresses. Anyone curious about the Napoleonic era from a woman's perspective will find a quick, easy narrative.
Practical, clear-cut and escapist; an easy read.
Best for readers like The Curious Generalist. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 2012
- Language
- EN
