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The Life and Letters of Madame Bonaparte
This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.
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As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.
As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
278 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1879
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May 24, 2014
This Madame B was the brief wife of Jerome Bonaparte, brother to Napoleon. As history goes, she is American and married him and had a son before he abandoned her for a politically superior marriage.
This book is the documented letters of a number of people and takes place mainly in Europe where she becomes more and more bitter and miserly as her life unfolds. There was no moneys forthcoming from the remaining Bonaparte clan and takes place after Napoleon I is dead.
She does meet with several of them and, as per usual, promises were made for herself and her son; but nothing came of those promises.
She endlessly writes to her Father in Baltimore regarding lack of money, making sure her son had the best education, and the balls, salons, and soirees she attends to attain status in Europe. Which she did. She hated the backwaters of America and spent most of her life travelling Europe to keep her social status advanced. She purposely kept the name Bonaparte, as it opened doors for her which would otherwise be closed due to her lack of financial standing.
Her regard for marriage was a bitter one and fervently hoped her son would never marry as she was certain all marriages ended in failure of one sort or another. I suspect living in Europe in the time just after Napoleon I death, it was somewhat justified as people married for money, status or political gain in the upper echelon. Casting off spouses regularly for a better suited alliance for their personal agendas.
She had hopes Jerome II would live and travel with her in Europe, which he did, until he was old enough to make his own choices. Which was to live in America and marry.
Although having a charming personality, she was very harsh in her soul. Her letters attesting to this. But to outward appearances she was the perfect debutante to all she met, and was familiar and accomplished in European society and cultural decorum of the moment.
Being a book of over 130 years old, it was difficult to read as I did not want to damage it.
This book is the documented letters of a number of people and takes place mainly in Europe where she becomes more and more bitter and miserly as her life unfolds. There was no moneys forthcoming from the remaining Bonaparte clan and takes place after Napoleon I is dead.
She does meet with several of them and, as per usual, promises were made for herself and her son; but nothing came of those promises.
She endlessly writes to her Father in Baltimore regarding lack of money, making sure her son had the best education, and the balls, salons, and soirees she attends to attain status in Europe. Which she did. She hated the backwaters of America and spent most of her life travelling Europe to keep her social status advanced. She purposely kept the name Bonaparte, as it opened doors for her which would otherwise be closed due to her lack of financial standing.
Her regard for marriage was a bitter one and fervently hoped her son would never marry as she was certain all marriages ended in failure of one sort or another. I suspect living in Europe in the time just after Napoleon I death, it was somewhat justified as people married for money, status or political gain in the upper echelon. Casting off spouses regularly for a better suited alliance for their personal agendas.
She had hopes Jerome II would live and travel with her in Europe, which he did, until he was old enough to make his own choices. Which was to live in America and marry.
Although having a charming personality, she was very harsh in her soul. Her letters attesting to this. But to outward appearances she was the perfect debutante to all she met, and was familiar and accomplished in European society and cultural decorum of the moment.
Being a book of over 130 years old, it was difficult to read as I did not want to damage it.
Displaying 1 of 1 review