Book Description:
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 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.
My Thoughts:
Betsy Patterson dreamed of living in France since she was a little girl. She didn’t want to live as a boring stereotypical wife in Baltimore. So, when Jerome Bonaparte came into her life, he was the answer to her prayers. Much to her father’s dismay, she fell for Jerome hook, line, and sinker. For awhile she lived with him like royalty, in America. However, when Jerome was summoned back to France by his brother, Napoleon, it was made clear he was to return without his wife.
Betsy went on many adventurers to try to get Napoleon to accept her, including getting caught up on a sinking ship. No matter what she did, she was not accepted and her marriage to Jerome was annulled in France. Jerome was under age when he married and hadn’t received the consent of his mother or brother.
By then Betsy had Jerome’s baby boy and had to start looking out for his welfare. She wanted more for him than what she has. Eventually she wanted him to be accepted by his royal family and to live in France with a title. All he wanted was to settle down in Baltimore with a wife a raise horses.
The Ambitious Madame Bonaparte was part romance and part adventure, all wrapped up in a historical back drop. There’s something for everyone.
At times I sympathised with Betsy. I certainly wouldn’t have wanted the life that her own parents wanted for her, what most parents wanted for their daughters at the time. To be a baby factory like her mother was.
Ruth Hull Chatlien made the characters, the places, and the history come alive. While reading I felt like I was a good friend of Betsy, accompanying her on all her adventures. Elizabeth Patterson Bonaparte was a strong female, at a time when strong females were not welcome. Due to Ruth Hull Chatlien, I got to know Betsy and see her through her ups and downs. I found it very difficult to put this book down and highly recommend it.
5/5
I was provided with an ebook copy from the author for my honest review.
About Ruth Hill Chatlien:
Ruth Hull Chatlien has been a writer and editor of educational materials for twenty-five years. Her specialty is U.S. and world history. She is the author of Modern American Indian Leaders and has published several short stories and poems in literary magazines. The Ambitious Madame Bonaparte is her first published novel.
She lives in northeastern Illinois with her husband, Michael, and a very pampered dog named Smokey. When she’s not writing, she can usually be found gardening, knitting, drawing, painting, or watching football.
Website: http://ruthhullchatlienbooks.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ruthhullchatlien
‘The Ambitious Madame Bonaparte’ had been named a finalist in the 2014 Readers Favorite Book Award Contest!
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