From acclaimed biographer Flora Fraser, the brilliant life of Napoleon’s favorite sister. Celebrated for her looks, notorious for her passion...
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reviews
Jan 27, 2011
Jen
rated it: 
Pauline Bonaparte is not a likable person. There it is. Imagine the snottiest most annoying girl in high school, only then give her a brother who is in charge of the greater part of europe, and you have Pauline Bonaparte.
The book was fine I guess. I never felt swept away by the story, and at times I checked EXACTLY how many pages I had left. The author felt that it was important to use $3 words when a nickel one would have done not only as well, but better.
The larger proble More...
The book was fine I guess. I never felt swept away by the story, and at times I checked EXACTLY how many pages I had left. The author felt that it was important to use $3 words when a nickel one would have done not only as well, but better.
The larger proble More...
Feb 19, 2010
Jodi
rated it: 
Not a bad read but felt there was a lot of acceptance as fact over some of the rumors that circulated about the Bonaparte family with no proof to support the rumors given by the author. I’ll use the most obvious example to explain my point with Fraser’s dealing with the rumors of incest between Napoleon and Pauline. The author states "it seems almost inevitable, given their strong sex drives…, their mutual affection, their clannish affinity, that they should have experimented sexually t
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Jul 09, 2009
Claire
rated it:
I'm giving 2 stars not because of the writing (I read Flora Fraser's book "Princesses" and really liked it) but because of the subject. Pauline Bonaparte was certainly a colorful personality, but in the end, not much more than that. It was interesting to learn about the Bonaparte family (a part of history I am sadly lacking much education in) but in the end, Bonaparte is, well, I'd say the Paris Hilton of her generation but, as much as it pains me to say this, I think Paris Hilton has
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Nov 23, 2011
Tgill
rated it: 
A really disappointing read. It's a short book, but I feel like there were maybe ten little anecdotes about Pauline herself and the rest was just meaningless filler. I didn't feel like I got to know her at all and just walked away with a few facts like how she liked to rest her feet on her servant's throats. There is so much material here for an interesting story (she was the sister of Napoleon for goodness sake!), but somehow the writer missed the mark. Not worth your time.
Jun 24, 2009
Jane
rated it:
This was good on the period and the background, rather repetitive about Pauline B herself. Did I miss information on her childhood? (I started reading it on a plane) but was surprised by later references to her and her mother's straitened circumstances.
Jan 14, 2012
Lyddie
rated it:
Why is it the witches of the world have every man drooling over them? The author made no argument for Napoleon Bonaparte's sister being likable in any way -- except to her brother.
Dec 18, 2011
L.
rated it:
I see no reason why this woman merited a book all about her. Other than sleeping with any man that walked by, Pauline Bonaparte really does nothing. Because Pauline isn't that important to history, author Flora Fraser writes more about other people and happenings during this turbulent time, making her main subject actually more of a supporting player. It's a very dry read - no juicy tidbits to savor. It's a quick read, it just took me so long to finish because I kept being distracted by other, b
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Mar 14, 2009
Rosie
rated it:
Sister to Bonaparte-vain, capricious, loyal (to Bonaparte,not her husbands)-this is a good story of her life and times
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