Napoleon & Marie Louise: The Emperor's Second Wife

by Alan Warwick Palmer

Describes Napoleon's second marriage to Hapsburg Archduchess Marie Louise, a political and diplomatic maneuver that grew into a genuine love match, detailing the birth of Napoleon's only son, her loyalty to him during the fall of Paris, and her later role as sovereign of Parma. 10,000 first printing.

Genres: History, France, Biography, Royalty

288 pages, Hardcover

First published December 12, 2000

About the author

Author also writes under Alan Palmer

Alan Palmer was Head of the History Department at Highgate School from 1953 to 1969, when he gave up his post to concentrate on historical writing and research.

Reviews

[evie · Rating 4 out of 5]

a good blanket history of the second half of napoleonic france. marie louise is a fascinating character in concept, married into an upstart empire and coming from the most ancient dynasty in europe. alan palmer does a great job combining fact and narrative in detailing this story however i felt the absence of the character of napoleon throughout. whilst a figure like josephine carried the personality, grit and fascination to shine biographically without her husband, marie louise didn’t. i thought more could have been made about how the habsburg napoleonic marriage marked a turning point in the history of europe & nationalism too: all they was to follow into the next centuries. especially the transformation marie louise was to witness

[Yooperprof · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting, well-written; a largely unknown chapter of early nineteenth century European history. On the face of things, Marie Louise was set up to repeat the unfortunate circumstances of her great aunt Marie Antoinette. She was a sweet and sheltered Austrian Archduchess who was "sacrificed" to a political marriage with the leader of Austria's traditional enemy France. And Marie Louise had been brought up to think of Napoleon as the uncouth Corsican brigand who twice despoiled the sancitity of her beloved Vienna. But it seems that Marie Louise was much more resourceful - better able to adapt - and made the best of her marriage of circumstances. While they were together, Napoleon and Marie Louise seem to have been truly devoted to one another. And after Napoleon's fall, Marie Louise was able to look after herself - and her son - quite well, thank you very much.

Is birth-order part of the difference? Marie Antoinette was "the last of the litter," while Marie Louise was the oldest, and most responsible, in her family. She was Emperor Francis' favorite child, and their relationship was important personally and politically. It seems that upbringing is important, even in royal families.

Alan Palmer has written a sympathetic, understanding portrait that combines history and biography in a balanced account. He is a amused, and an amusing, storyteller. He is neither a strong Bonapartist nor a fierce anti-Bonapartist, which is a admirable thing indeed.

[Misty · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is very dry and written more like a text book. BUT, if you are looking for historical information on Napoleon & Marie-Louise, this book is perfect. So in that sense I loved it, just a bit of a struggle to get through.

[Katie Claus · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting history BUT it was almost exclusively about Napoleon until his death. Marie Louise seemed like an afterthought and their relationship hardly touched on. The book it almost all about Napoleons military battles and maneuvering...not what I expected.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have never been a fan of Marie Louise. This book did nothing to change my mind.