Mirella Sichirollo Patzer's Blog, page 12

The scandalous life of Queen of Navarre and France - Margaret de Valois

Marguerite de Valois1553 - 1615
The daughter of Queen Catherine de Medici and King Henry II, she was born a Princess of France, and through marriage, she rose to the rank of Queen of France and Queen of Navarre. Like her bold mother, Margaret was no shrinking violet. She was strong and independent, with a zest for high fashion. At a very young age, she fell in love with Henry I, Duke of Guise. 

While her parents were arranging a political marriage for her with her distant cousin, King Henry III of Navarre, (everyone was called Henry in those days) they discovered her clandestine relationship with Guise. So in bold Catherine de Medici style, she had her daughter hauled from her bed and had her soundly beaten. 
Margaret's marriage to her distant cousin would prove to be a challenge right from the start. You see, in France, there were plenty of struggles between the Catholics and the Huguenots (Protestants) and her new husband was definitely, but quietly, Huguenot. A royal wedding draws great crowds, and both Catholics and Huguenots gathered. Assassinations and mob violence ensued. Between 5,000 and 30,000 people throughout France lost their lives that day. Not an auspicious beginning for the young married couple. During the massacre which lasted nearly a week, Margaret saved numerous lives, including that of her new husband.  
Nevertheless, Marguerite soon figured out that marriage need not prevent her from pursuing the life she dreamed of. A true beauty who was obsessed with her appearance and clothes, she adopted and indulged in a wanton, debauched lifestyle, taking on and discarding lovers as swiftly as shedding her clothes. 
Her brother, the new king Henry III, was so scandalized by her her licentious behavior and sinful reputation, he banished her from his court and had her imprisoned in a castle, but amid the luxury she had always been used to. Later, her husband would extend her imprisonment and divorce her. She wrote her own memoirs which were published after her death. When she died she was buried in the funerary chapel of the Valois in the Basilica of St Denis, but her remains are subsequently missing. No one knows where they are, but it is believed that either her body went missing during renovations or that they were destroyed during the French Revolution. 
Author Sophie Perinot has penned a beautiful novel of Margaret's life entitled MEDICI'S DAUGHTER. 
Winter, 1564. Beautiful young Princess Margot is summoned to the court of France, where nothing is what it seems and a wrong word can lead to ruin. Known across Europe as Madame la Serpente, Margot's intimidating mother, Queen Catherine de Médicis, is a powerful force in a country devastated by religious war. Among the crafty nobility of the royal court, Margot learns the intriguing and unspoken rules she must live by to please her poisonous family.Eager to be an obedient daughter, Margot accepts her role as a marriage pawn, even as she is charmed by the powerful, charismatic Duc de Guise. Though Margot's heart belongs to Guise, her hand will be offered to Henri of Navarre, a Huguenot leader and a notorious heretic looking to seal a tenuous truce. But the promised peace is a mirage: her mother's schemes are endless, and her brothers plot vengeance in the streets of Paris. When Margot's wedding devolves into the bloodshed of the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre, she will be forced to choose between her family and her soul.Médicis Daughter is historical fiction at its finest, weaving a unique coming-of-age story and a forbidden love with one of the most dramatic and violent events in French history.

This is a story of love, passion, intrigue, betrayal, and cruel violence - a true representation of this turbulent time in history. Plenty has been written about Catherine de Medici, so I found it incredibly fascinating to read about her daughter and the struggles she would have had living under her mother's controlling thumb. I quite enjoyed learning some of the machinations and descriptions of the The St Bartholemew's Day Massacre. The author did an outstanding job in bringing this turbulence to life in a very realistic and easy to understand fashion. 

Although Margaret de Valois has been much maligned throughout history, I liked how her motivations were presented and it helped to understand some of the hard choices Margaret had to make to survive in the tumultuous French and Italian courts. 

Everything about this story appealed to me - the era, the political climate, and the religious difficulties facing France and the French people. This fictional account of her life was well rendered and magically delivered. Definitely recommended!

The Rise and Fall of a Warrior Queen!

At an early age, Zenobia was placed in charge of her family's sheep. Somehow this translated into giving her the experience of ruling over men, at least according to legend. She could ride like the wind, out-drink most men, hunt, and march long distances with little effort! An ancestor of Cleopatra, Zenobia had a genius mind, able to outwit and outsmart most men of her time. After winning several military battles, her husband was made governor, but was later assassinated. That's when Zenobia stopped being the woman behind the successful man and took the rains of power for herself. The historian Richard Stoneman described this period of her life:
"During the five years after the death Odaenthus in 267 CE, Zenobia had established herself in the minds of her people as mistress of the East. Housed in a palace that was just one of the many splendors of one of the most magnificent cities of the East, surrounded by a court of philosophers and writers, waited on by aged eunuchs, and clad in the finest silk brocades that Antioch or Damascus could supply, she inherited also both the reputation of Odaenthus' military successes and the reality of the highly effective Bedouin soldiers. With both might and influence on her side, she embarked on one of the most remarkable challenges to the sovereignty of Rome that had been seen even in that turbulent century. Rome, afflicted now by invasion from the barbarian north, had no strong man in the East to protect it...Syria was temporarily out of mind."
Very impressive for a pampered wealthy woman! However, in the end, she faced terrible defeat. There are many different accounts of her final days. Some state she was paraded through the streets of Rome as a bejewelled trophy for Aueralian's triumph parade, while others have her drowning with her son while being transported to Rome. Others say she escaped, or she poisoned herself, or was executed. Regardless, the story of her incredible life has fired the imaginations of countless historians throughout the centuries.
Author Libbie Hawker has gathered up a great deal of research and written a compelling recreation of Zenobia's life story in a novel entitled, DAUGHTER OF SAND AND STONE.  Book Synopsis:  Zenobia, the proud daughter of a Syrian sheikh, refuses to marry against her will. She won’t submit to a lifetime of subservience. When her father dies, she sets out on her own, pursuing the power she believes to be her birthright, dreaming of the Roman Empire’s downfall and her ascendance to the throne. Defying her family, Zenobia arranges her own marriage to the most influential man in the city of Palmyra. But their union is anything but peaceful—his other wife begrudges the marriage and the birth of Zenobia’s son, and Zenobia finds herself ever more drawn to her guardsman, Zabdas. As war breaks out, she’s faced with terrible choices. From the decadent halls of Rome to the golden sands of Egypt, Zenobia fights for power, for love, and for her son. But will her hubris draw the wrath of the gods? Will she learn a “woman’s place,” or can she finally stake her claim as Empress of the East?
Review:

Daughter of Sand and Stone by Libbie Hawker is a novel about Zenobia, the famous warrior queen of Palmyra. She lived in the 3rd century, and it cannot be easy to successfully re-imagine her life, but Libby Hawker has done just that, and who doesn't love a story about a strong woman thrust into a man's world who must fight not only for her survival, but also for her throne and kingdom. 

Zenobia's tale is a tad rags to riches, a tad coming of age, and a whole bunch of cunning! She not only conquered Egypt, she also posed a serious threat to great Roman army. Sadly, Zenobia's tale can also be considered tragic, and I think that's why this novel is an engrossing read. It offers a vivid portrayal of the realities of life and love, of hearth and home, of power and ambition in a most credible way. The author's level of research is evident in the vivid pictures she paints, her thought-provoking scenes, and the joy of reading the elegant prose.

This is a wonderful historical biographical novel--one that I highly recommend.

10 Year Old Eliza Spalding Warren - Survivor of The Whitman Massacre

Eliza was the daughter of Presbyterian Missionaries who survived the Whitman Massacre and subsequent capture by a violent band of Cayuse Indians. 
The Whitman Massacre took place on Nov. 29, 1847, at Waiilatpu, a Christian mission on the Walla Walla River. Fourteen residents of the mission were murdered by a disgruntled band of Cayuse Indians who blamed them for a measles epidemic that had killed many members of the tribe, and also feared that there were too many white settlers.
More than forty women and children, including Eliza Spalding, were taken captive by the Cayuse but were later ransomed by Peter Skene Ogden of the Hudson Bay Company. 
Although only ten years old at the time of the massacre, Eliza played a vital role. She was the only survivor who could speak Cause and understand her captors.

The Atrocities of Ilsa Koch

Lurking behind the face of this pretty German girl named Ilsa Koch is pure evil incarnate. The wealthy wife of a high level Nazi officer, she had a lot of time on her hands. Instead of normal entertainments like shopping, dinner parties, or tea with the ladies, Ilsa would entertain herself at the concentration camp. She loved to watch the abuse of prisoners. Her delight progressed into things too gruesome for understanding. The camp became her playground, the prisoners her props. 
Many atrocities are attributed to this debauched woman - torture, murder, starvation, sexual enticement, and many more. Mostly, her claim to fame is she created ornaments from human skin, including shrunken heads and lampshades made from human skin, with which she decorated her home. Many Nazi socialites even gave her special orders for these baubles for their own homes. There many existing images of these objects on the internet, and I shall not post them here because the sight is too haunting and heartbreaking. 
After being prosecuted by the U.S. for personally selecting prisoners for murder, which she denied, she was sentenced to life in prison. Koch committed suicide at Aichach women's prison on 1 September 1967 at the age of 60 years. She never showed any remorse.  

Below is a comprehensive YouTube video worth watching. 
In memory of all the Jewish people who suffered at her hands and that of the Nazis, let us never forget!

Women's Fiction Book Review - A Long Shade by Corinne West

The year is 1911 in drought-stricken rural Southern Alberta, and although times are hard, young Brian Dance’s future seems full of promise. But when tragedy strikes, one loss follows another, and words are spoken that can never be taken back. Many years later, as a grown man, Brian returns to the small town of his youth thinking he has left his past—and his pain—behind him. Instead, he finds that he is troubled about many things, in particular his deepening affection for the sister of an estranged childhood friend. Spiritually and emotionally bereft, he runs from the love he desperately needs. But a man can only go so far before coming to the end of himself. 
Set against the stark beauty of the prairies and the lofty majesty of the Rockies, A Long Shade traces a journey from the burgeoning centers of a young province to the rarefied mountain retreats of affluent jazz-age internationals. West explores both our yearning for meaningful connection and the buried reasons that drive us to resist it. 

In her debut novel, Corinne West has brought to life the turbulence of the early 1900's in the Canadian prairies. From Medicine Hat to Banff, West takes us on an unbelievable journey of sadness, despair, betrayal, love, and redemption. Brian Dance is a fascinating protagonist, troubled, solitary, enigmatic. Surrounded by a strong cast of colorful supporting characters, the story comes alive with credibility and poignancy. In this fascinating character driven story, the reader is swept into a rustic country setting and becomes immersed in the lives and troubles of the unforgettable characters. The author delves deeply into their mindset, their passions, their mistakes and the impact upon others. Reconciliation is a strong theme throughout. 

Corinne West is an excellent writer. A native Albertan, her research is thorough and accurate. There is a lot of factual information in the story, but it is incorporated seamlessly into the story and through dialogue. She is able to set a mood, a gentle but steady pace until the story's satisfying ending. Poignant scenes throughout evoke emotion - sometimes I laughed, sometimes I cried. From first page to last, this was a thoroughly compelling and engrossing tale. Highly recommended, especially for those with a passion for Canadian historical fiction. 

Women's Fiction Book Review - A Respectable Actress by Dorothy Love

When India Hartley is accused of murder, she must uncover the deceptions of others to save herself. India Hartley, a famous and beautiful actress, is now alone after her father’s death and embarks upon a tour of theaters across the South. Her first stop is Savannah’s Southern Palace. On the eve of the second night’s performance, something goes horribly wrong. Her co-star, Arthur Sterling, is shot dead on stage in front of a packed house, and India is arrested and accused of the crime.A benefactor hires Philip Sinclair, the best—and handsomest—lawyer in Savannah to defend India. A widower, Philip is struggling to reinvent his worn-out plantation on St. Simons Island. He needs to increase his income from his law practice in order to restore Indigo Point, and hardly anything will bring him more new clients than successfully defending a famous actress on a murder charge.Because India can’t go anywhere in town without being mobbed, Philip persuades the judge handling her case to let him take her to Indigo Point until her trial date. India is charmed by the beauty of the Georgia lowcountry and is increasingly drawn to Philip. But a locked room that appears to be a shrine to Philip’s dead wife and the unsolved disappearance of a former slave girl raise troubling questions. Piecing together clues in an abandoned boat and a burned-out chapel, India discovers a trail of dark secrets that lead back to Philip, secrets that ultimately may hold the key to her freedom. If only he will believe her.
Review:
A RESPECTABLE ACTRESS by Dorothy Love is a cozy mystery romance between a young actress named India Hartley and her benefactor/lawyer Philip Sinclair. The story is told through the India's point of view. I truly enjoyed the southern theater setting which was well researched and nicely detailed, lending a nice flavor to the tale. A nicely complicated mystery weaves itself throughout with plenty of plot twists and turns that kept me eager to find out what happened next. A nice sized cast of colorful characters adds plenty of interest and some red herrings to the story. And of course, the ending was nicely satisfying, tying up all the loose ends and providing all the answers that ran through my mind as I read. This is more than a simple mystery or love story. It is a novel about risk and trust, betrayal and honesty, and plenty of love and redemption. Nicely crafted and a lovely story! Highly recommended.

The Chilling Prophecies of Baba Vanga (The Blind Prophetess)

Dubbed the female Nostrodamus, Baba Vanga has seen the future and foretold the fates that will befall the world. Many have already happened. Many more chilling, fascinating are awaiting fruition.
This humble woman was born in Macedonia. She was a premature baby who suffered with numerous health issues. When she was a young girl, her mother died while her father was fighting for the Bulgarian army during World War II. 
Mostly raised by a neighbor, she loved playing games about healing and from there her passion was born. 
Vanga managed to cheat death several times. One day, a tornado struck and poor Vanga was seized by the turbulent winds and hurled into a field. When she was found, she was in extreme pain. Her eyes were covered in dirt and dust and she could not open them. Attempts to heal her failed and Vanda became blind. In 1939 she caught pleurisy and everyone was certain she would die. Instead, she healed very quickly. 
Despite the fact she was blind, Vanga could see into the future and her predictions were more often then not, highly accurate. Word spread of her ability and many came to see her seeking answers for missing relatives in the aftermath of World War II. Before long, her predications became famous, as did she. 
Vanga even dreamed of her own death. She predicted she would die on August 11, 1996 and would be buried two days later. And this in fact came true. She died of breast cancer and was buried on the exact dates she predicted. Humble and poor all her life, great dignitaries and large crowds attended her funeral.   
Like those of Nostrodamus, her predictions have been recorded. 
Here are some of her predictions that have come true already:

ACCURATE AND TRUE BABA VANGA PROPHECIES
In the 1950's, she foresaw global warming and the 2004 Tsunami.“Cold regions will become warm … and volcanoes will awaken. A huge wave will cover a big coast covered with people and towns, and everything will disappear beneath the water.”“Everything will melt, just like ice.”In 1989 she predicted the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack on New York’s Twin Towers:  "Horror, horror! The American brethren (twin towers)will fall after being attacked by the steel birds (hijacked passenger planes). The wolves will be howling in a bush (US president George Bush) and innocent blood will gush.”In 1980 she predicted the sinking of Russian nuclear submarine the Kursk in 2000. She saw the crew die horrible deaths over several days while international rescue crews tried in vain to retrieve the vessel from the depths of the ocean. Until the tragedy, people assumed the “Kursk” Vanga referred to was the Russian city the Kursk was named for. Her exact predication was: "At the turn of the century, in August of 1999 or 2000, Kursk will be covered with water, and the whole world will be weeping over it.”Vanga predicated the election of Barack Obama, stating that the 44th president of the United States would be African American, but she also warned that he would be the “last US president”. Only time will tell what that truly means. 
Here is a more complete list of the many predictions to come. Chilling, fascinating, and truly amazing!
COMPLETE LIST OF PREDICTIONS
2010 – World War III. War will begin in November 2010 and end in October 2014. Will begin as usual, then nuclear will be used initially, and then chemical weapons.2011 – As a result of the fallout of nuclear fallout in the northern hemisphere, there will not be any animals or vegetation. Then Muslims will wage war against chemical surviving Europeans.2014 – Most people will suffer skin cancer and other skin diseases (a consequence of chemical warfare). 
2016 –Muslims” will invade Europe, which will “cease to exist” as we know it. The ensuing campaign of destruction will last years, driving out populations and leaving the entire continent “almost empty”. Europe almost lonely (empty).
2018 – New China becomes a world power. Developing countries in turn will be operated from exploiters.2023 – A little bit of change in the Earth’s orbit.2025 – The population of Europe will reach almost zero. Europe still little settled.2028 – A new energy source will be created (probably a controlled thermonuclear reaction). Hunger is gradually being overcome. A manned spacecraft is successfully launched to Venus in order to find new energy sources. 2033 – The polar ice are melting. World water levels will rise as the polar ice caps melt (this is already happening).2043 – The world economy is thriving. In Europe, Muslims rule. Europe’s transformation into an Islamic caliphate is complete. Rome is named the capital. The world’s economy thrives under Muslim rule.2046 – Bodies (organs) can be manufactured (cloning?). Replacing the bodies is becoming one of the best methods of treatment.2066 – During the attack on the Muslim Rome, the United States used a new kind of weapon – the climate. The sharp cooling (instant freezing). America will use a new climate change weapon for the first time in a bid to retake Rome and bring back Christianity.2076 – Classless Society - Communism will return to Europe and the rest of the world.2084 – The restoration of nature. It will be reborn2088 – A new disease – aging for a few seconds!2097 – The rapid aging defeated.2100 – Artificial sun illuminates the dark side of the Earth. Man-made sun illuminates the dark side of the planet (This is already in place - beginning in 2008, scientists have been working on creating an artificial sun using nuclear fusion technology).2111 – People become living robots.2123 – The war between small nations. Big nations do not intervene.2125 – Hungary will receive signals from space.2130 – Colony under water (with the help of sympathetic councils or aliens).2164 – Animals turn half-human.2167 – A new religion.2170 – Major global drought.2183 – A colony on Mars becomes a nuclear power, and demands independence from the Earth (like when – the United States from England).2187 – Two major volcanoes will be successfully stopped from erupting. 2195 – Sea Colony fully developed, abundant energy and food.2196 – Complete mixing of Asians and Europeans.2201 – Temperatures drop as the sun’s thermonuclear processes slow down.2221 – In the search for extraterrestrial life, humanity comes into contact with something terrible.2256 – Spacecraft forgotten to Earth brings a terrible new disease.2262 – Planets gradually change their planetary orbit. Mars is threatened by comets.2271 – Restart physical constants are changed. (Laws of physics changed?)2273 – Mixing yellow, white and black races. New race.2279 – Power from nothing (probably from a vacuum or a black hole).2288 – Travel back in time (Time Travel invented?). New contacts with aliens.2291 – The sun cools. Attempts were being made to light it again.2296 – Powerful eruption on the Sun will change the force of gravity. Beginning to fall old space stations and satellites.2299 – In France, guerrilla movement against Islam.2302 – New important laws and secrets of the universe revealed.2304 – Secrets of the Moon revealed.2341 – Something terrible will approach Earth from space.2354 – An accident on one of the artificial suns will result in more drought.2371 – The great famine.2378 – A new fast-growing race.2480 – Two artificial suns will collide and leave the earth in the dark / twilight.3005 - There will be a war on Mars. It will change/violate the trajectory of the planet.3010 – A comet will hit Moon. A ring / zone of stones and dust will encircle the earth. 3797 – By this time on Earth killed all life, but mankind will be advanced enough and able to lay the foundations for a new life in another stellar system. 3803 – A new planet is populated by little. Fewer contacts between people. Climate new planet affects the organisms of people – they mutate.3805 – The war between humans for resources. More than half of people dying out.3815 – The war is over.3854 – The development of civilization virtually stops. People live flocks as beasts.3871 – New prophet tells people about moral values, religion.3874 – New prophet receives support from all segments of the population. Organized a new church.3878 – along with the Church to re-train new people forgotten sciences.4302 – New cities are growing in the world. New Church encourages the development of new technology and science.4302 – The development of science. Scientists discovered in the overall impact of all diseases in organism behavior.4304 – Found a way to win any disease.4308 – Due to mutation people at last beginning to use their brains more than 34%. Completely lost the notion of evil and hatred.4509 – Getting to Know God. The man has finally been reached such a level of development that can communicate with God.4599 – People achieve immortality.4674 – The development of civilization has reached its peak. The number of people living on different planets is about 340 billion. Assimilation begins with aliens.5076 – A boundary universe. With it, no one knows.5078 – The decision to leave the boundaries of the universe. While about 40 percent of the population is against it.5079 – End of the World.
Fascinating! Here are some Youtube videos I found of Baba Vanda sharing some of her incredible stories. Enjoy!

Book Review - Whispers in the Reading Room by Shelley Bray

Lydia’s job at the library is her world—until a mysterious patron catches her eye . . . and perhaps her heart. Just months after the closure of the Chicago World’s Fair, librarian Lydia Bancroft finds herself fascinated by a mysterious dark-haired and dark-eyed patron. He has never given her his name; he actually never speaks to a single person. All she knows about him is that he loves books as much as she does.Only when he rescues her in the lobby of the Hartman Hotel does she discover that his name is Sebastian Marks. She also discovers that he lives at the top of the prestigious hotel and that most everyone in Chicago is intrigued by him.Lydia and Sebastian form a fragile friendship, but when she discovers that Mr. Marks isn’t merely a very wealthy gentleman, but also the proprietor of an infamous saloon and gambling club, she is shocked.Lydia insists on visiting the club one fateful night and suddenly is a suspect to a murder. She must determine who she can trust, who is innocent, and if Sebastian Marks—the man so many people fear—is actually everything her heart believes him to be.
Review by Mirella PatzerAlso visit my other blog: History and Women
This is a charming cozy mystery set in the era of the Chicago's World's Fair, the third book in a series. This novel stands alone and one does not need to read the previous two books to get the full benefit. I think this book captures many things which appealed to me - a charismatic heroine/librarian, an enigmatic hero who is endearing but comes with a secret or two, and of course, an intriguing murder mystery. 
The story unfolds at a steady pace and is an easy read, and it kept me rooting for Lydia and Sebastian and the romance that was developing between them despite the darkness of the murder. The author did an excellent job of building in atmosphere and creating likable characters. The novel has a light air to it, nothing to heavy or provocative or controversial. I liked the fact that the story didn't glamorize Chicago. Rather, we got to see some of the seedier side of the infamous city. It had a good mix of good and bad and rich and poor. 
I liked this book a lot. It's a wonderful cozy mystery/romance for curling up in front of the fire on a cold winter's night. 
Thank you to the author and publisher. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review - The Girl from the Train by Irma Joubert

Six-year-old Gretl Schmidt is on a train bound for Aushwitz.  Jakób Kowalski is planting a bomb on the tracks. As World War II draws to a close, Jakób fights with the Polish resistance against the crushing forces of Germany and Russia. They intend to destroy a German troop transport, but Gretl’s unscheduled train reaches the bomb first. Gretl is the only survivor. Though spared from the concentration camp, the orphaned German Jew finds herself lost in a country hostile to her people. When Jakób discovers her, guilt and fatherly compassion prompt him to take her in. For three years, the young man and little girl form a bond over the secrets they must hide from his Catholic family. But she can’t stay with him forever. Jakób sends Gretl to South Africa, where German war orphans are promised bright futures with adoptive Protestant families—so long as Gretl’s Jewish roots, Catholic education, and connections to communist Poland are never discovered. Separated by continents, politics, religion, language, and years, Jakób and Gretl will likely never see each other again. But the events they have both survived and their belief that the human spirit can triumph over the ravages of war have formed a bond of love that no circumstances can overcome.
This international bestseller has now been translated into English! This tale of World War II is a life and death tale about a young Jewish girl who escapes from a train bound for Auschwitz and encounters Jakob, a fighter for the Polish resistance who is determined to reunite her with her family. 
The story is steeped in historical fact as the two protagonists struggle to overcome the brutalities of war. There is an underlying Christian theme throughout that lends a tone of love and faith throughout. This is a lovely tale of inspiration and enduring strength with many fascinating layers. One cannot help but fall in love with Jakob and Gretl and their viewpoint over the war and resistance. Beautifuly written, easy to read, and poignant throughout, this is definitely one book to savor! Delightful in all its aspects.
Thank you to the author and publisher. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Napoleon's Other Wife

Marie Louise
Napoleon’s Other Wife byDeborah Jay
Eighteen-year-old Habsburg Archduchess Marie-Louise leaves Vienna in 1810 to marry Napoleon, Emperor of France, her father’s arch-enemy. Like her great-aunt Marie-Antoinette forty years earlier, she believes her marriage will secure peace between Austria and France. But others, unbeknown to her, intend to use her marriage to bring down Napoleon for good. Unexpectedly, she finds Napoleon, an adorable, loving, romantic husband and duly produces a dynastic heir. Married to the Austrian throne, Napoleon believes himself impregnable and decides to conquer Russia. But the Russians outwit him, and forge an alliance with Austria and Britain, among others, to bring him down. Marie-Louise’s loyalty to her husband and to France is heroic. The Allies capture Napoleon in Fontainebleau and get him out of the country as fast as they can, leaving Marie-Louise and her son to the Allies. Learning that she has been deceived by both her father and husband, Marie-Louise decides to go directly with her son to the Parman duchies promised her by the Allies on her husband’s abdication. But her claim is hotly contested by the Spanish Bourbons. When Napoleon stages a return to Paris from Elba and demands his wife and child, the allies unanimously declare war on him. Having despatched Napoleon to St Helena after defeating him at Waterloo, the allies grant her Parma, but there is a sting in the tail. In Parma, she alleviates her misery by devotion to her subjects, who keep silent as regards her private life. Remaining ever loyal to her husband, she introduces her own legislation, placing Parma at the vanguard in terms of women’s and children’s rights, and creates an oasis of enlightenment, resisting pressure from all other reactionary rulers on the Italian peninsula to root out dissident elements. 
Europe is scandalised when the truth about her private life is revealed upon the premature death of her chief administrator. Marie-Louise tries in vain to protect her son by Napoleon from the vengeance that his enemies want to exact as she fights to retain her Parman throne against the French and Spanish Bourbons and against the forces of Italian patriotism, which Napoleon has inspired. In the meantime, she works to achieve her offspring’s dreams and to combat the impact of cholera, drought, floods and famine in her duchies. Disastrous mismanagement in her absence of celebrations to mark the new liberal Pope’s election precipitates her collapse. Within a fortnight of her death, revolution spreads across the Italian Peninsula, engulfing her duchies.
Marie-Louise’s battle against adversity and pursuit of happiness outside conventional morality, compellingly narrated in Napoleon’s Other Wife, are both relevant and inspirational to the woman of today. Napoleon’s Other Wife is also ideally suited as recommended reading for  ‘A’ and higher level studies in the French Revolution, Napoleonic period and the Italian Risorgimento.

AuthorDeborah Jay
Amazon USA       Amazon Canada       Amazon UK