Blurb
Embark on a voyage through unconditional love, power, and betrayal!
How could an emperor like Napoleon Bonaparte be so captivated by the twenty-year-old Polish Countess Marie Walewska—admittedly a rare beauty but of minor nobility—that their affair would last through both his marriages? And if it wasn’t romance that first drew Marie to Napoleon, what was it?
At just eight years old, Marie finds her life forever changed by the death of her father, killed in battle against the Russians. This tragedy sparks a deep, lifelong patriotism in her as Poland is fragmented and divided among Russia, Prussia, and Austria.
A fan of Napoleon since her school days, Marie eagerly seizes the opportunity to meet him when he passes through the former Poland, his intention to secure military support for his campaign to conquer Russia. She seeks only to express Poland’s gratitude and hope he would restore the nation’s independence. She never imagined a romantic entanglement. But Napoleon, taken with her patriotism, youth, and beauty, soon sets his sights on her—and begins a campaign to win her heart.
Though Marie resists, powerful forces pressure her—just as they had in her marriage—to give in to the emperor’s desires.
Expect to be immersed in Marie’s world, where love and loyalty collide amidst a galaxy of powerful aristocrats, politicians, and military leaders. You’ll journey from Marie’s manor house on the plains of Poland to cosmopolitan Warsaw, through grand palaces in Austria, France, and Italy—before sailing to the Island of Elba, where destiny awaits.
My Review
I admit I had a totally different impression of Marie Walewska than the woman I found in this book. Where did my preconceived notion come from? A movie, I suspect. The Marie I found here spent a lot of time agonizing about losing her virtue to Napoleon, in the interest of saving her country. Would anyone appreciate the sacrifice she was making, or would she be forever branded as a ruined woman? In a way, this is ironic, considering her first exposure to him, when she foolishly threw herself at his carriage in an attempt to impress him with Poland’s hope that he would deliver them from the Russians.
The emperor’s attention came back to her. “You are very beautiful, Mademoiselle.”
Marie drew in a deep breath. There was no time to correct him, only moments to relay her message. And yet—the speech she had prepared for months flew out of her head. Her moment was slipping away. She swallowed hard, sensing defeat.
Napoleon turned away.
However, in moments he was lifting a small wreath of white winter roses through the window, toward her. “Take it,” he said, his penetrating eyes, deep-set under dark brows and a broad forehead, holding her motionless. “Take it,” he repeated, dropping it into her hands. “I have a dozen more beside me.” He rewarded her with another wide smile before calling to the postilion: “Aller!”
Her humiliation was complete, especially since she was no longer a Mademoiselle, having been obliged to marry a man old enough to be her grandfather. His wealth saved her family from penury, but she was miserable. Napoleon, however, remembered that first meeting and insisted on seeing her again under more intimate circumstances. At first, she was like a frightened rabbit, but everyone kept encouraging her to give in to his amorous advances. She held out for a long time… almost too long! But in the end, she fell under Napoleon’s spell. And he fell under hers, though he was absent way more than he was present and she spent a lot of time waiting. And waiting. And when she was ordered to come to Paris—or wherever he was at the moment—she was hidden away. What a life! Not nearly as glamorous as I expected. A very interesting book, if a little frustrating!
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DVGQCLCG?
