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The Golden Bees: The Story of the Bonapartes
Napoleon III, being accused on one occasion of having nothing of the Great Napoleon about him, replied with as much exasperation as wit, that he did, on the contrary, have his relations.
This book is a domestic chronicle of the incredible Bonaparte family, a greedy, amorous, quarrelsome and hot-blooded Corsican clan who provided nineteenth-century Europe — and America — not only with two French emperors, but also with a dazzling assortment of pretenders and parvenus, statesmen and eccentrics, great ladies and adventuresses.
Plumped on to the thrones of Europe by the career of Napoleon I, who probably took better care of his family than any conqueror in history, the Bonapartes survived the wreck of the two empires they ruled, buzzing around the honeypots of the continent with all the persistence of the imperial bees of Napoleon's crest.
This is a personal history, not a political one. It is the family, with its eccentricities, vulgarities and fascinations manifesting themselves in generation after generation, which holds the centre of the stage. The great political, economic and military events of the time are heard dimly as 'noises off'. Napoleon I himself appears as son, brother, husband, father and above all as founder of a dynasty, rather than as a great public figure.
But about the family, its feuds, its treacheries, its love affairs, its moments of greatness and of human tragedy, Mr Aronson seems to have missed not one good story, from the squabbles of Napoleon's rebellious sisters over the carrying of Josephine's train, to Hitler's remarkable deal with Petain for the return of the body of the Duke of Reichstadt to his father's tomb in the Invalides.
Mr Aronson paints his family portrait with a wealth of detail based on many years of research with historical documents and original records, letters, memoirs and family diaries — for, in the end, no one seems to have been able to tell quite such a lurid tale about a Bonaparte as another Bonaparte.
This book is a domestic chronicle of the incredible Bonaparte family, a greedy, amorous, quarrelsome and hot-blooded Corsican clan who provided nineteenth-century Europe — and America — not only with two French emperors, but also with a dazzling assortment of pretenders and parvenus, statesmen and eccentrics, great ladies and adventuresses.
Plumped on to the thrones of Europe by the career of Napoleon I, who probably took better care of his family than any conqueror in history, the Bonapartes survived the wreck of the two empires they ruled, buzzing around the honeypots of the continent with all the persistence of the imperial bees of Napoleon's crest.
This is a personal history, not a political one. It is the family, with its eccentricities, vulgarities and fascinations manifesting themselves in generation after generation, which holds the centre of the stage. The great political, economic and military events of the time are heard dimly as 'noises off'. Napoleon I himself appears as son, brother, husband, father and above all as founder of a dynasty, rather than as a great public figure.
But about the family, its feuds, its treacheries, its love affairs, its moments of greatness and of human tragedy, Mr Aronson seems to have missed not one good story, from the squabbles of Napoleon's rebellious sisters over the carrying of Josephine's train, to Hitler's remarkable deal with Petain for the return of the body of the Duke of Reichstadt to his father's tomb in the Invalides.
Mr Aronson paints his family portrait with a wealth of detail based on many years of research with historical documents and original records, letters, memoirs and family diaries — for, in the end, no one seems to have been able to tell quite such a lurid tale about a Bonaparte as another Bonaparte.
501 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1964
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160 people want to read
About the author
Theo Aronson
24 books33 followersTheo Aronson is an historical biographer specialising in the Royal Houses of Europe. Among his many widely read books are "The Golden Bees: The Story of the Bonapartes," "Grandmama of Europe" and "Royal Family: Years of Transition."
His books have been published in Britain, the United States, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Holland and Belgium.
Theo Aronson lives in an eighteenth-century stone house in Frome, Somerset.
His books have been published in Britain, the United States, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Holland and Belgium.
Theo Aronson lives in an eighteenth-century stone house in Frome, Somerset.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
March 27, 2020
Edited to add:
I changed this review and rating on 3/27/20. While reading Crowns of Conflict by this author I came across the following quote:
'The ambitious King Leopold II of the Belgians not only acquired but personally owned the vast Congo empire.'
King Leopold II of Belgium committed mass genocide against the Congolese Peoples.
He murdered 10 million people and Hitler based his practices during The Holocaust after this monster.
If you are not familiar with him or with this horrific genocide, I suggest reading: King Leopold's Ghost: A Story of Greed, Terror, and Heroism in Colonial Africa by Adam Hochschild.
There's also a movie by that name that also deals with this.
I also encourage you to Google the photos from this genocide. They are brutal.
It is not ok to in ANYWAY refer to this behavior as 'ambitious'.
This author is a fucking Nazi and if he's not dead should be fucking shot.
Origianal review:
This was long but interesting
I changed this review and rating on 3/27/20. While reading Crowns of Conflict by this author I came across the following quote:
'The ambitious King Leopold II of the Belgians not only acquired but personally owned the vast Congo empire.'
King Leopold II of Belgium committed mass genocide against the Congolese Peoples.
He murdered 10 million people and Hitler based his practices during The Holocaust after this monster.
If you are not familiar with him or with this horrific genocide, I suggest reading: King Leopold's Ghost: A Story of Greed, Terror, and Heroism in Colonial Africa by Adam Hochschild.
There's also a movie by that name that also deals with this.
I also encourage you to Google the photos from this genocide. They are brutal.
It is not ok to in ANYWAY refer to this behavior as 'ambitious'.
This author is a fucking Nazi and if he's not dead should be fucking shot.
Origianal review:
This was long but interesting
June 22, 2019
An excellent and well-written biography of the Bonaparte family. No politics, just history on the family, their friends and connections. I have enjoyed all of Theo Aronson's books, but I found this one a little too lengthy, so I found myself skipping over the pages during the last 2/3 of the book - after the death of Napolean I 's son - but resumed reading with the interesting and last chapter on the empty gesture by the Nazis to return Napolean's body to be interred in France. However, I highly recommend it for someone wanting - as I did - to unravel the intricacies of this famous family.
April 21, 2024
Aronson's first book, it lacks the breezy confidential tone of his later work. More seriously focused, Aronson does a good job of keeping track of the whole family, even differentiating between all the same names across the generations.
The Bonapartes are more than capable of providing their own shenanigans, but if you're looking for a broader look at the rest of the court, this is not the book you want. Murat is the only Marshal to get much notice, in his marriage to Caroline.
For all that it's one of Aronson's bigger books, it moves quickly, with a focus on the parallels of the three Napoleons.
The Bonapartes are more than capable of providing their own shenanigans, but if you're looking for a broader look at the rest of the court, this is not the book you want. Murat is the only Marshal to get much notice, in his marriage to Caroline.
For all that it's one of Aronson's bigger books, it moves quickly, with a focus on the parallels of the three Napoleons.
October 8, 2023
What an ego
January 11, 2021
Great short book on the Bonaparte family starting with Napoleon I all the way to his nephew who ended up ruling as Emperor Napoleon III (and his overthrow). Great book for those who want a short primer on the Bonaparte family.
April 10, 2016
A personal history of Napoleon's family. From his natal family to about World War II -- the epilogue is about Hitler's attempt to make a gracious gesture by having Napoleon's son 's coffin moved to France.
You will not hear much of politics or military except as impinges on the family -- especially in their marriages, and obtaining, or failing to obtain, posts, the intrigues when out of power, and all that.
And such personal moments as when Napoleon III's son was born, his cousin and former heir refused to sign the birth certificate -- until their cousin Mathilde descend upon him in a dudgeon because she had been there twenty-seven hours and would not stay any longer, and therefore he was going to sign it.
You will not hear much of politics or military except as impinges on the family -- especially in their marriages, and obtaining, or failing to obtain, posts, the intrigues when out of power, and all that.
And such personal moments as when Napoleon III's son was born, his cousin and former heir refused to sign the birth certificate -- until their cousin Mathilde descend upon him in a dudgeon because she had been there twenty-seven hours and would not stay any longer, and therefore he was going to sign it.
March 25, 2016
Fascinating tapestry of history
Even if you have read any of Napoleon's many biographies… You will learn a great deal about his vast family, spread across Europe and America for more than a century. Fascinating insights into the Second Empire.
Even if you have read any of Napoleon's many biographies… You will learn a great deal about his vast family, spread across Europe and America for more than a century. Fascinating insights into the Second Empire.
April 8, 2017
Brilliant couldn't put it down. A really enlightening insight into the period. A must read for all readers of historical biographies, I would recommend this book most highly.
A most informative book which I found held me enthralled, I couldn't put it down and would recommend it to all readers of historical biographies.
A most informative book which I found held me enthralled, I couldn't put it down and would recommend it to all readers of historical biographies.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews