The Second Empress: A Novel of Napoleon's Court by Michelle Moran

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

First, you have to know this is one of my favorite writers so you know I was going to add it to my library and was pretty sure I was going to like it.

I loved it! I learned so much I didn't know about the time, Napoleon, his second empress, and some of his female relations!

I knew nothing about Marie-Louise! She comes across as a very bright, loving person and mother who had to endure a lot from Napoleon (who would have been considered an old man). Her father, King of Austria, really left her no choice in the marriage because not marrying the Napoleon would have put her beloved country into war with France. I don't want to ruin her story for you but I will tell you she and her son out lived him!

I've read of Josephine prior but the bits from her letters and seeing her from the eyes of others.

Ah, and then there is the sister-in-law, Pauline! She's something else! A great beauty of her day who would have herself married to her brother as was done in Egyptian times!

I learned that it was during the Napoleon's comeback that the French abolished slavery. Also a bit about the treatment of social diseases during the time (UCK).

Read this book for the history but also for a really good story!

O, if you like to listen to your books, this is great for there are multiple readers who are each good narrators!

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