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Napoleon's Shadow Wife: A Novel of Countess Marie Walewska
Embark on a journey through unconditional love, power, and betrayal!How could an emperor like Napoleon Bonaparte be so captivated by the twenty-year-old Polish Countess Marie Walewska—admittedly a rare beauty but of minor nobility—that their affair would last through both his marriages? And if it wasn’t romance that first drew Marie to Napoleon, what was it?
At just eight years old, Marie finds her life forever changed by the death of her father, killed in battle against the Russians. This tragedy sparks a deep, lifelong patriotism in her as Poland is fragmented and divided among Russia, Prussia, and Austria.
A fan of Napoleon since her school days, Marie eagerly seizes the opportunity to meet him when he passes through the former Poland, his intention to secure military support for his campaign to conquer Russia. She seeks only to express Poland’s gratitude and hope he would restore the nation’s independence. She never imagined a romantic entanglement. But Napoleon, taken with her patriotism, youth, and beauty, soon sets his sights on her—and begins a campaign to win her heart.
Though Marie resists, powerful forces pressure her—just as they had in her marriage—to give in to the emperor’s desires.
Expect to be immersed in Marie’s world, where love and loyalty collide amidst a galaxy of powerful aristocrats, politicians, and military leaders. You’ll journey from Marie’s manor house on the plains of Poland to cosmopolitan Warsaw, through grand palaces in Austria, France, and Italy—before sailing to the Island of Elba, where destiny awaits.
At just eight years old, Marie finds her life forever changed by the death of her father, killed in battle against the Russians. This tragedy sparks a deep, lifelong patriotism in her as Poland is fragmented and divided among Russia, Prussia, and Austria.
A fan of Napoleon since her school days, Marie eagerly seizes the opportunity to meet him when he passes through the former Poland, his intention to secure military support for his campaign to conquer Russia. She seeks only to express Poland’s gratitude and hope he would restore the nation’s independence. She never imagined a romantic entanglement. But Napoleon, taken with her patriotism, youth, and beauty, soon sets his sights on her—and begins a campaign to win her heart.
Though Marie resists, powerful forces pressure her—just as they had in her marriage—to give in to the emperor’s desires.
Expect to be immersed in Marie’s world, where love and loyalty collide amidst a galaxy of powerful aristocrats, politicians, and military leaders. You’ll journey from Marie’s manor house on the plains of Poland to cosmopolitan Warsaw, through grand palaces in Austria, France, and Italy—before sailing to the Island of Elba, where destiny awaits.
- GenresHistorical Fiction
492 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 13, 2025
39 people are currently reading
941 people want to read
About the author
James Conroyd Martin
10 books323 followersAh, Fate~
The seed for "Fortune's Child" started some years ago when I was taking an Art Appreciation course at a community college in Los Angeles. One day we were studying the exquisite mosaics of Emperor Justinian and Empress Theodora from the Basilica di San Vitale in Ravenna, Italy, and the professor pointed to Theodora and said, “I’m not a writer, but if I were, that is the woman I would write about.”
Little did he know what he had unloosed.
What a fascinating woman, frailties and all! She could have been the prototype for Eva Peron. I started the novel right then and there; however, life and other books got in the way.
But Fortune's Child has finally found her way.
Fate goes ever as it must.
I am also the author of THE POLAND TRILOGY, beginning with "Push Not the River," a novel based on the diary of Anna Berezowska, a Polish countess who lived through the rise and fall of the Third of May Constitution. After working on the project for some years without raising interest within the publishing community, I self-published in 2001. Just one year later, St. Martin’s Press purchased the book and released a hard cover edition in September 2003. Polish and German rights sold almost immediately.
The Polish edition, "Nie ponaglaj rzeki," was released in May of 2005, became a bestseller and sold out in a matter of months. Anna's story had come full circle: Polish to English to Polish! "Pod purpurowym niebem," the translation of "Against a Crimson Sky," also became a bestseller when published in December of 2007.
"The Warsaw Conspiracy" followed, as did "The Boy Who Wanted Wings."
Martin, who holds degrees from St. Ambrose and DePaul Universities, is a retired English and Creative Writing teacher now living and writing in Portland, Oregon.
The seed for "Fortune's Child" started some years ago when I was taking an Art Appreciation course at a community college in Los Angeles. One day we were studying the exquisite mosaics of Emperor Justinian and Empress Theodora from the Basilica di San Vitale in Ravenna, Italy, and the professor pointed to Theodora and said, “I’m not a writer, but if I were, that is the woman I would write about.”
Little did he know what he had unloosed.
What a fascinating woman, frailties and all! She could have been the prototype for Eva Peron. I started the novel right then and there; however, life and other books got in the way.
But Fortune's Child has finally found her way.
Fate goes ever as it must.
I am also the author of THE POLAND TRILOGY, beginning with "Push Not the River," a novel based on the diary of Anna Berezowska, a Polish countess who lived through the rise and fall of the Third of May Constitution. After working on the project for some years without raising interest within the publishing community, I self-published in 2001. Just one year later, St. Martin’s Press purchased the book and released a hard cover edition in September 2003. Polish and German rights sold almost immediately.
The Polish edition, "Nie ponaglaj rzeki," was released in May of 2005, became a bestseller and sold out in a matter of months. Anna's story had come full circle: Polish to English to Polish! "Pod purpurowym niebem," the translation of "Against a Crimson Sky," also became a bestseller when published in December of 2007.
"The Warsaw Conspiracy" followed, as did "The Boy Who Wanted Wings."
Martin, who holds degrees from St. Ambrose and DePaul Universities, is a retired English and Creative Writing teacher now living and writing in Portland, Oregon.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
May 23, 2025
Interesting historical content
The Counters Marie is at first a sympathetic character. The story drags when she constantly is angry about her arranged marriage. This was expected during her time. Was she pressured into an affair with Napoleon? Yes, and yet she goes to him again and again. She seems at once wise and annoyingly naive.
I did enjoy learning about Poland's struggle.
The story doesn't mention Desiree, Napoleon's fiancee that he betrayed for Josephine. Four women he used for his desire without being constant to any one woman.
The Counters Marie is at first a sympathetic character. The story drags when she constantly is angry about her arranged marriage. This was expected during her time. Was she pressured into an affair with Napoleon? Yes, and yet she goes to him again and again. She seems at once wise and annoyingly naive.
I did enjoy learning about Poland's struggle.
The story doesn't mention Desiree, Napoleon's fiancee that he betrayed for Josephine. Four women he used for his desire without being constant to any one woman.
November 25, 2025
I admit I had a totally different impression of Marie Walewska than the woman I found in this book. Where did my preconceived notion come from? A movie, I suspect. The Marie I found here spent a lot of time agonizing about losing her virtue to Napoleon, in the interest of saving her country. Would anyone appreciate the sacrifice she was making, or would she be forever branded as a ruined woman? In a way, this is ironic, considering her first exposure to him, when she foolishly threw herself at his carriage in an attempt to impress him with Poland’s hope that he would deliver them from the Russians.
The emperor’s attention came back to her. “You are very beautiful, Mademoiselle.”
Marie drew in a deep breath. There was no time to correct him, only moments to relay her message. And yet—the speech she had prepared for months flew out of her head. Her moment was slipping away. She swallowed hard, sensing defeat.
Napoleon turned away.
However, in moments he was lifting a small wreath of white winter roses through the window, toward her. “Take it,” he said, his penetrating eyes, deep-set under dark brows and a broad forehead, holding her motionless. “Take it,” he repeated, dropping it into her hands. “I have a dozen more beside me.” He rewarded her with another wide smile before calling to the postilion: “Aller!”
Her humiliation was complete, especially since she was no longer a Mademoiselle, having been obliged to marry a man old enough to be her grandfather. His wealth saved her family from penury, but she was miserable. Napoleon, however, remembered that first meeting and insisted on seeing her again under more intimate circumstances. At first, she was like a frightened rabbit, but everyone kept encouraging her to give in to his amorous advances. She held out for a long time… almost too long! But in the end, she fell under Napoleon’s spell. And he fell under hers, though he was absent way more than he was present and she spent a lot of time waiting. And waiting. And when she was ordered to come to Paris—or wherever he was at the moment—she was hidden away. What a life! Not nearly as glamorous as I expected. A very interesting book, if a little frustrating!
The emperor’s attention came back to her. “You are very beautiful, Mademoiselle.”
Marie drew in a deep breath. There was no time to correct him, only moments to relay her message. And yet—the speech she had prepared for months flew out of her head. Her moment was slipping away. She swallowed hard, sensing defeat.
Napoleon turned away.
However, in moments he was lifting a small wreath of white winter roses through the window, toward her. “Take it,” he said, his penetrating eyes, deep-set under dark brows and a broad forehead, holding her motionless. “Take it,” he repeated, dropping it into her hands. “I have a dozen more beside me.” He rewarded her with another wide smile before calling to the postilion: “Aller!”
Her humiliation was complete, especially since she was no longer a Mademoiselle, having been obliged to marry a man old enough to be her grandfather. His wealth saved her family from penury, but she was miserable. Napoleon, however, remembered that first meeting and insisted on seeing her again under more intimate circumstances. At first, she was like a frightened rabbit, but everyone kept encouraging her to give in to his amorous advances. She held out for a long time… almost too long! But in the end, she fell under Napoleon’s spell. And he fell under hers, though he was absent way more than he was present and she spent a lot of time waiting. And waiting. And when she was ordered to come to Paris—or wherever he was at the moment—she was hidden away. What a life! Not nearly as glamorous as I expected. A very interesting book, if a little frustrating!
June 20, 2025
After numerous books about Napoleon's other ladies, Marie Walewska finally gets her turn in the spotlight. She is mostly mentioned in passing in other novels as a challenge to Josephine - Marie is younger and the one to finally give Napoleon a child. The actual woman seems to have been discreet - or at least little of her actual words have survived. This gives Martin space to flesh out her interior world into a sprawling novel, one firmly placed in the seething world of Napoleonic Poland.
The setting is the strongest part of this novel. Having previously read Martin's Poland trilogy, I knew going in that the politics and Polish identity would be the central touchstone of Marie's life. She is a fiercely proud patriot of her country, never losing sight of her goal to regain Poland's independence. The memory of her father's loss in the fight for independence is always before her - it is in him memory that she rejects a young suitor because of his Russian family.
Unfortunately, Marie's Polish pride is the only well-defined facet of her personality. She begins the novel as a sheltered convent-taught girl and remains that naive and innocent the whole time. She doesn't know she's the most beautiful woman in Warsaw! She's shocked everyone knows she's having an affair with the emperor! She's shocked that no one else is shocked! She cuts one friend out of her life for barely hinting at Marie's affair with Napoleon. Her husband is accepting of the affair - Marie is the one insisting that her marriage is ruined, even as she interacts with every other couple in the book who are married but having affairs. Somehow her love for Napoleon is different than all these other relationships. It ended up feeling more like modern projection than what people of the time believed about love. Marie never feels like the noble lady she is by birth and raising, more like a modern teenage dropped into the time period as an observer - an isolated one.
But my biggest issue with her is the constant dithering. I recognize that this is mostly a me problem but when you write fiction about a real historical figure - and you are keeping to an accurate biography - the will they / won't they about something we already know the answer to should be kept to the minimum. We spend over the first 100 pages on Marie's decision to go through with her first marriage when we already know the answer. Then we get a repeat over her decision to become Napoleon's lover. It slows the already stuttering pace and wastes time - cut all that, begin the novel with her wedding, and show us the things that are only mentioned, like Marie's time nursing the wounded. The pacing never really picks up as Marie trails Napoleon back and forth to Paris. She is a passive participant in her life - and the narrative is so tightly focused on her that an exciting period of history becomes boring. But I did find it a compelling read, especially the Polish focus.
The setting is the strongest part of this novel. Having previously read Martin's Poland trilogy, I knew going in that the politics and Polish identity would be the central touchstone of Marie's life. She is a fiercely proud patriot of her country, never losing sight of her goal to regain Poland's independence. The memory of her father's loss in the fight for independence is always before her - it is in him memory that she rejects a young suitor because of his Russian family.
Unfortunately, Marie's Polish pride is the only well-defined facet of her personality. She begins the novel as a sheltered convent-taught girl and remains that naive and innocent the whole time. She doesn't know she's the most beautiful woman in Warsaw! She's shocked everyone knows she's having an affair with the emperor! She's shocked that no one else is shocked! She cuts one friend out of her life for barely hinting at Marie's affair with Napoleon. Her husband is accepting of the affair - Marie is the one insisting that her marriage is ruined, even as she interacts with every other couple in the book who are married but having affairs. Somehow her love for Napoleon is different than all these other relationships. It ended up feeling more like modern projection than what people of the time believed about love. Marie never feels like the noble lady she is by birth and raising, more like a modern teenage dropped into the time period as an observer - an isolated one.
But my biggest issue with her is the constant dithering. I recognize that this is mostly a me problem but when you write fiction about a real historical figure - and you are keeping to an accurate biography - the will they / won't they about something we already know the answer to should be kept to the minimum. We spend over the first 100 pages on Marie's decision to go through with her first marriage when we already know the answer. Then we get a repeat over her decision to become Napoleon's lover. It slows the already stuttering pace and wastes time - cut all that, begin the novel with her wedding, and show us the things that are only mentioned, like Marie's time nursing the wounded. The pacing never really picks up as Marie trails Napoleon back and forth to Paris. She is a passive participant in her life - and the narrative is so tightly focused on her that an exciting period of history becomes boring. But I did find it a compelling read, especially the Polish focus.
June 6, 2025
I won a copy of this book. Excited? Yes!
Disappointed? Tremendously!
Moving at a snails pace, I struggled to read as far as I could.
I'm all for writer's building up a plot line or describing scenery, but this was just too slow and didn't really seem to advance.
Disappointed? Tremendously!
Moving at a snails pace, I struggled to read as far as I could.
I'm all for writer's building up a plot line or describing scenery, but this was just too slow and didn't really seem to advance.
June 17, 2025
While most people have probably learned that French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte's (1769-1821) great love was his first wife Josephine (1763-1814), fewer people know much about his multi-year affair with Polish Countess Marie Walewska (1786-1817), the subject of this historical novel.
NAPOLEON'S SHADOW WIFE, the latest historical fiction from James Conroyd Martin (THE POLAND TRILOGY) offers readers Marie's back story - which, ultimately, is about how one woman was and was not able to wield power to achieve her goals.
Though born into a noble family, where both parents came from wealth and prominence, Marie's family nevertheless became impoverished after the death of her father in the Battle of Maciejowice, (part of the Greater Poland Uprising of 1794 - a fight for Polish independence against Russia and Prussia).As the oldest child, it was considered Marie's duty to "secure the future" for her widowed mother and six younger siblings. So, against her will, Marie, just 18-years-old, is married to the wealthy, twice-widowed nobleman, Athenasius, Count Colonna-Walewski. He was 68 at the time of their marriage. So, Marie was certainly powerless at this moment.
But having secured the well-being of her family, and fiercely loyal to the memory of her father, Marie becomes determined to continue the fight for Polish independence. She believes if she can find a way to meet with Napoleon (who is busily conquering Europe), she can make a persuasive case. Many other prominent Poles encourage her in this belief. How Marie finally meets Napoleon and the influence he comes to have over the rest of her life is the meat of this novel.
The book reads like contemporary fiction, so there's ancient dialect to wade through. From what I can gather, the novel follows historical fact closely, though it does not make her the oldest child in her family. I found the overall pace a bit slow. There is a lot of detail included around society, transportation, dress, and food at this time. But I expect many will find this period detail adds to the novel's authenticity.
The most interesting aspect of NAPOLEON'S SHADOW WIFE for me was examining how much power a beautiful woman like Marie (or any woman at this time) truly had. I would argue less than most think. And certainly less than she hoped. Men still made the decisions in the early years of the 19th century. And Marie's story is very much one of waiting around for others to make those decisions.
NAPOLEON'S SHADOW WIFE, the latest historical fiction from James Conroyd Martin (THE POLAND TRILOGY) offers readers Marie's back story - which, ultimately, is about how one woman was and was not able to wield power to achieve her goals.
Though born into a noble family, where both parents came from wealth and prominence, Marie's family nevertheless became impoverished after the death of her father in the Battle of Maciejowice, (part of the Greater Poland Uprising of 1794 - a fight for Polish independence against Russia and Prussia).As the oldest child, it was considered Marie's duty to "secure the future" for her widowed mother and six younger siblings. So, against her will, Marie, just 18-years-old, is married to the wealthy, twice-widowed nobleman, Athenasius, Count Colonna-Walewski. He was 68 at the time of their marriage. So, Marie was certainly powerless at this moment.
But having secured the well-being of her family, and fiercely loyal to the memory of her father, Marie becomes determined to continue the fight for Polish independence. She believes if she can find a way to meet with Napoleon (who is busily conquering Europe), she can make a persuasive case. Many other prominent Poles encourage her in this belief. How Marie finally meets Napoleon and the influence he comes to have over the rest of her life is the meat of this novel.
The book reads like contemporary fiction, so there's ancient dialect to wade through. From what I can gather, the novel follows historical fact closely, though it does not make her the oldest child in her family. I found the overall pace a bit slow. There is a lot of detail included around society, transportation, dress, and food at this time. But I expect many will find this period detail adds to the novel's authenticity.
The most interesting aspect of NAPOLEON'S SHADOW WIFE for me was examining how much power a beautiful woman like Marie (or any woman at this time) truly had. I would argue less than most think. And certainly less than she hoped. Men still made the decisions in the early years of the 19th century. And Marie's story is very much one of waiting around for others to make those decisions.
April 18, 2025
What sacrifice would you be willing to make in the interest of the greater good?
That was the question that kept coming back to me as I read this enthralling story. The author takes us back to 19th-century Poland and tells the story of Marie, a young Polish woman of minor nobility. Marie’s family has fallen on hard times after her father died while unsuccessfully defending Poland from being invaded by Russia. The outlook is bleak for Marie both personally and politically. The family’s estate is falling into disrepair and her country, Poland, no longer exists as an independent state. Marie is courted by a much older nobleman with money. With her family facing bankruptcy, she is encouraged to marry a man she does not love. This is her first dilemma. She responds by reluctantly agreeing to marriage. Determined to save her country, she seeks out and meets the one man who can restore Polish sovereignty, Emperor Napoleon. Charmed by her beauty, Napoleon pursues her. This presents a second dilemma for Marie; should she, a married woman, pursue an extra-marital affair in order to save her country?
The author’s eye for detail immerses the reader in the political climate, customs of the time, parlor room gossip and the general zeitgeist of 19th-century Europe. Marie is portrayed a sympathetic character placed in a difficult situation. Her relationship with Napoleon takes some twists and turns as she realizes her dreams may not come to fruition.
The author does a tremendous job giving the reader a sense of time and place. More importantly, he grounds the story by framing it with a moral dilemma; what would you do for the greater good? That grounding brings out the main character’s humanity and gives the story a beating heart.
Highly recommended.
That was the question that kept coming back to me as I read this enthralling story. The author takes us back to 19th-century Poland and tells the story of Marie, a young Polish woman of minor nobility. Marie’s family has fallen on hard times after her father died while unsuccessfully defending Poland from being invaded by Russia. The outlook is bleak for Marie both personally and politically. The family’s estate is falling into disrepair and her country, Poland, no longer exists as an independent state. Marie is courted by a much older nobleman with money. With her family facing bankruptcy, she is encouraged to marry a man she does not love. This is her first dilemma. She responds by reluctantly agreeing to marriage. Determined to save her country, she seeks out and meets the one man who can restore Polish sovereignty, Emperor Napoleon. Charmed by her beauty, Napoleon pursues her. This presents a second dilemma for Marie; should she, a married woman, pursue an extra-marital affair in order to save her country?
The author’s eye for detail immerses the reader in the political climate, customs of the time, parlor room gossip and the general zeitgeist of 19th-century Europe. Marie is portrayed a sympathetic character placed in a difficult situation. Her relationship with Napoleon takes some twists and turns as she realizes her dreams may not come to fruition.
The author does a tremendous job giving the reader a sense of time and place. More importantly, he grounds the story by framing it with a moral dilemma; what would you do for the greater good? That grounding brings out the main character’s humanity and gives the story a beating heart.
Highly recommended.
May 19, 2025
👑 Napoleon’s Shadow Wife: A Novel of Countess Marie Walewska by James Conroyd Martin
A luminous portrait of the woman who loved an emperor—and shaped history from the shadows.
✨ Review
**💔 Love & Power: Martin breathes vivid life into Marie Walewska’s story—not just as Napoleon’s mistress, but as a political strategist and reluctant heroine.
**🎭 Historical Intimacy: The grandeur of Napoleonic Europe unfolds through private letters and palace whispers, blending epic history with raw, personal drama.
**⚖️ Feminine Strength: Marie’s quiet resilience—navigating war, scandal, and a mercurial lover—challenges the “damsel” trope with elegant ferocity.
**🖋️ Prose as Rich as Brocade: Martin’s writing drips with period-perfect detail (ballgowns! Warsaw winters!), though some may crave faster pacing.
**💡 Revelatory Perspective: A fresh lens on Napoleon—less conqueror, more flawed man bewitched by a woman he couldn’t fully possess.
⭐ Star Breakdown (0–5)
Research: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5) (Seamless fusion of fact and fiction—history buffs will swoon.)
Emotional Depth: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.5/5) (Marie’s sacrifices ache through every page.)
Pacing: ⭐⭐⭐ (3/5) (Lingers like a courtly waltz; patience rewards.)
Romantic Tension: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5) (Their chemistry smolders even in quiet moments.)
Originality: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5) (Rivals The Paris Wife for overlooked-muse narratives.)
Overall: 4.3/5 - Like finding a love letter tucked inside a history book—achingly intimate, devastatingly real.
🙏 Thank you to James Conroyd Martin for the advance review copy. Pair with The Rose of Martinique (about Josephine) for a duel of Napoleonic consorts, or The Secret Wife of Louis XIV for another hidden royal romance.
(Note: The childbirth scene—raw, unglamorous, triumphant—will haunt you.)
A luminous portrait of the woman who loved an emperor—and shaped history from the shadows.
✨ Review
**💔 Love & Power: Martin breathes vivid life into Marie Walewska’s story—not just as Napoleon’s mistress, but as a political strategist and reluctant heroine.
**🎭 Historical Intimacy: The grandeur of Napoleonic Europe unfolds through private letters and palace whispers, blending epic history with raw, personal drama.
**⚖️ Feminine Strength: Marie’s quiet resilience—navigating war, scandal, and a mercurial lover—challenges the “damsel” trope with elegant ferocity.
**🖋️ Prose as Rich as Brocade: Martin’s writing drips with period-perfect detail (ballgowns! Warsaw winters!), though some may crave faster pacing.
**💡 Revelatory Perspective: A fresh lens on Napoleon—less conqueror, more flawed man bewitched by a woman he couldn’t fully possess.
⭐ Star Breakdown (0–5)
Research: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5) (Seamless fusion of fact and fiction—history buffs will swoon.)
Emotional Depth: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.5/5) (Marie’s sacrifices ache through every page.)
Pacing: ⭐⭐⭐ (3/5) (Lingers like a courtly waltz; patience rewards.)
Romantic Tension: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5) (Their chemistry smolders even in quiet moments.)
Originality: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5) (Rivals The Paris Wife for overlooked-muse narratives.)
Overall: 4.3/5 - Like finding a love letter tucked inside a history book—achingly intimate, devastatingly real.
🙏 Thank you to James Conroyd Martin for the advance review copy. Pair with The Rose of Martinique (about Josephine) for a duel of Napoleonic consorts, or The Secret Wife of Louis XIV for another hidden royal romance.
(Note: The childbirth scene—raw, unglamorous, triumphant—will haunt you.)
May 25, 2025
With Napoleon’s Shadow Wife, author James Conroyd Martin has captured the spirit and story of Napoleon Bonaparte’s Polish mistress, Marie (née Łączyńska) Walewska. The novel is Martin’s eighth novel and the fifth set in Polish history. I recently finished this and recommend it to anyone interested in historical fiction, strong women, or a great read.
Marie is a fascinating historical figure. Her mother forced her into an arranged, and loveless marriage at age seventeen to the wealthy, but sixty-eight-year-old Count Walewska. From there, she had to maneuver the world of aristocrats, politicians, and men with little training and no support. The story takes place from 1803 to 1814, a pivotal time in Polish history. Poland no longer existed as an independent nation at this time, having been conquered and partitioned by Austria, Prussia, and Russia. The Poles nonetheless held their language, culture, and spirit as sacrosanct.
Kudos to the author. He did his research to bring an authentic tone and sense of history to the story.
Marie is a fascinating historical figure. Her mother forced her into an arranged, and loveless marriage at age seventeen to the wealthy, but sixty-eight-year-old Count Walewska. From there, she had to maneuver the world of aristocrats, politicians, and men with little training and no support. The story takes place from 1803 to 1814, a pivotal time in Polish history. Poland no longer existed as an independent nation at this time, having been conquered and partitioned by Austria, Prussia, and Russia. The Poles nonetheless held their language, culture, and spirit as sacrosanct.
Kudos to the author. He did his research to bring an authentic tone and sense of history to the story.
June 16, 2025
This novel is a historical account of the relationship between a Polish noblewoman, Countess Marie Walewska, and Napoleon. James Conroyd Martin writes fascinating, well-researched historical novels and is one of my favorite authors. This book immerses the reader in the period, the Polish dilemma, and Napoleon's ambitions. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. This is a book you will want to read slowly and enjoy. I took my time reading it and went back to chapters that particularly interested me. It's a book I will definitely read again.
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May 29, 2025A fascinating glimpse into a forgotten corner of Napoleon's history. Meticulously researched, this is the story of spirited Marie Walenska who became his mistress and bore his first son. Her husband consents to the liason in hopes of restoring independence to Poland. Her long travels by coach to visit Napoleon in secret locations gave the narrative depth.
July 20, 2025
I learned so much more history about Napoleon, Poland and the campaign with Russia from this can’t-put-down book! Fairly accurate historically, so far as I can tell. If you love historical fiction, you’re really going to enjoy it!
May 15, 2025
❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews