The story presents the full story of Josephine's life: from the young years to the acquaintance and marriage to Napoleon, the hardships of war, the days of her triumph, and finally, the divorce with Buonaparte and her death. A reader meets Josephine in the first days of her life, as her parents, who dreamt of a boy, were slightly disappointed by the birth of a girl who couldn't inherit the family name Tascher de la Pagerie and plantation. Yet, they didn't know that their daughter was destined to become one of the most prominent people in Europe and leave a significant trace in history. The book is the perfect choice for everyone who wants to learn more about the great personality of the Empress or dive into one of the most famous and spoken about love stories in history.

An anecdotal, illustrated biography of Napoleon Bonaparte's exotic empress discusses Napoleon's dependence on her sense of style to set the tone of his empire, her patrongage of the arts, and significant events in her life.

From CNN’s official royal historian, a highly praised young author with a doctorate from Oxford University, comes the extraordinary rags-to-riches story of the woman who conquered Napoleon’s heart—and with it, an empire. Their love was legendary, their ambition flagrant and unashamed. Napoleon Bonaparte and his wife, Josephine, came to power during one of the most turbulent periods in the history of France. The story of the Corsican soldier’s incredible rise has been well documented. Now, in this spellbinding, luminous account, Kate Williams draws back the curtain on the woman who beguiled him: her humble origins, her exorbitant appetites, and the tragic turn of events that led to her undoing. Born Marie-Josèphe-Rose de Tascher de La Pagerie on the Caribbean island of Martinique, the woman Napoleon would later call Josephine was the ultimate survivor. She endured a loveless marriage to a French aristocrat—executed during the Reign of Terror—then barely escaped the guillotine blade herself. Her near-death experience only fueled Josephine’s ambition and heightened her determination to find a man who could finance and sustain her. Though no classic beauty, she quickly developed a reputation as one of the most desirable women on the continent. In 1795, she met Napoleon. The attraction was mutual, immediate, and intense. Theirs was an often-tumultuous union, roiled by their pursuit of other lovers but intensely focused on power and success. Josephine was Napoleon’s perfect consort and the object of national fascination. Together they conquered Europe. Their extravagance was unprecedented, even by the standards of Versailles. But she could not produce an heir. Sexual obsession brought them together, but cold biological truth tore them apart. Gripping in its immediacy, captivating in its detail, Ambition and Desire is a true tale of desire, heartbreak, and revolutionary turmoil, engagingly written by one of England’s most praised young historians. Kate Williams’s searing portrait of this alluring and complex woman will finally elevate Josephine Bonaparte to the historical prominence she deserves.

Memoirs of the Empress Josephine in two volumes, is a biographical account of Madame de Rémusat, lady-in-waiting, of Josephine Bonaparte, first wife of Napoleon Bonaparte. Madame de Rémusat, born Clair de Vergennes, lost her father and grandfather in Revolution. Her mother was friend with Josephine, and when Josephine became Empress, she took Clair with her to be her lady-in-waiting. Madame de Rémusat was with Josephine to the end. She followed her into retirement and then took up her pen to write of court affairs and prominent people. Her memoirs present a vivid portrait not only of Josephine and Napoleon, but of surrounding Court life, seen through her eyes. Also, the memoirs can be useful as a survey of the first years of the nineteenth century. They illustrate what changes the institution of the Empire caused at Court, and how the life continuously modified to reflect the shifting fortunes of its master. The figure of the Napoleon stands out even though he is presented unsympathetically, since the memoirist was loyal to her mistress in struggles against the Bonaparte family.