“Tell the emperor that Madame Bonaparte is ambitious and demands her rights as a member of the imperial family.”
As a clever girl in stodgy, mercantile Baltimore, Betsy Patterson dreams of a marriage that will transport her to cultured Europe. When she falls in love with and marries Jerome Bonaparte, she believes her dream has come true — until Jerome’s older brother Napoleon becomes an … an implacable enemy.
Based on a true story, The Ambitious Madame Bonaparte is a historical novel that portrays this woman’s tumultuous life. Elizabeth Patterson Bonaparte, known to history as Betsy Bonaparte, scandalized Washington with her daring French fashions; visited Niagara Falls when it was an unsettled wilderness; survived a shipwreck and run-ins with British and French warships; dined with presidents and danced with dukes; and lived through the 1814 Battle of Baltimore. Yet through it all, Betsy never lost sight of her primary goal — to win recognition of her marriage.
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It had some very interesting history, but the book was a bit tedious to read through.
Pathetic characters I couldn’t get invested in.
Enjoy historical fictions. Liked the characters even though the story was a little hardball to follow at times.
This was an interesting account of the Bonaparte family and the events that related to the family lore.
I found myself having a hard time putting this book down.
Good book and wonderful story – enjoyed how women were a great help during war and lived a hard life.
I was entranced with this one, but amazed at the fact that this heroine totally wasted her life with unbelievable waiting…….early on you would have thought she would have been able to think this one through. she was depicted as a very intelligent and thinking person. I am glad I read this, and did enjoy it, but it disappointed me at the end.
I loved this book from start to finish. Brought the period to life. I did not know that Napoleon had a younger brother. A call it a must read
excellent but not historically right.
It is hard to empathize with the main character and her single-minded pursuit of royalty.
This book left you wondering how one person could be so single minded to only see the path she set before her to come to the only decision she was willing to accept.
Although a frequent visitor to Baltimore I had been unaware of Mrs. Bonaparte. This was historically interesting to me and fairly accurate as to social, and other norms of the period.
I grew up in Baltimore and had heard about Betsy Patterson marrying a Bonaparte, knew it wasn’t Napoleon, but I didn’t know anything else about her. This book told me a lot about her, about how selfish she was. All through the book she said how much she loved her son Jerome. Jerome, the son, wanted to stay in America but she wanted him to go to …
I love historical fiction/romance but only four stars as the “romance” turns into steamy sex. Why do authors not know to take you to the bedroom door and leave the rest to the imagination. Do editors insist on the redundant graphics?
Betsy was ahead of her time. I had never heard of her before this book. Since I have read it, I have looked into her more. She was her own force of nature.
Good read. I recommend reading.
Interesting story, but found it frequently tedious. Main character was stubborn and selfish.
It was a good read. Made me want to investigate the Bonaparte family to learn more of their history.
Betsy was quite a determined girl. I read a different book about her around 25 years ago. This one provided a lot more info about her original family. I am so thankful I live in this century. This book did convince that she did actually love Jerome. But, although her many admirable qualities are highlighted here, I do not think she was a good …
Love the fictional take on real people just after the Revolution and during War of 1812. Enjoyed history aspect, and it’s a good story.