The Queen's Fortune: A Novel of Desiree, Napoleon, and the Dynasty That Outlasted the Empire

Viac o knihe

As the French Revolution devastates the country, Desiree Clary confronts the harsh reality that her beloved world has vanished, and it falls to her to protect her family from the guillotine. A chance meeting with the ambitious Napoleon Bonaparte offers her a glimmer of hope. When her sister Julie marries Napoleon's brother, their fates become intertwined. Their passionate courtship leads to a secret engagement, with plans to reunite in the capital after Napoleon's career is secured. However, Desiree's dreams are shattered when Josephine de Beauharnais emerges as a rival. Thrust into the glamorous circles of Parisian society, Desiree becomes enmeshed with Napoleon, his family, and the new Empress. Her fortunes shift again upon meeting Napoleon's confidant, General Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte. As the two men become political adversaries, Desiree faces a dilemma: choose between her new husband and her loyalty to the Emperor. From the opulent French Riviera to the bustling streets of Paris and Stockholm, Desiree navigates the complexities of a changing empire, evolving from an impressionable girl into a resilient woman. To survive, she learns to trust her instincts and her heart, ultimately shaping her destiny in a tumultuous era.