Gold Medal Tolstoy Award, The Historical Fiction Company First Place Winner, Chanticleer Int'l Book Awards, Goethe Category "We see both Napoleon’s imperialistic and humanistic sides, along with his rise and fall. Marie is well-represented as not just a royal mistress but one with desires, exalted aims, and objectives. Highly recommended." ~ Waheed Rabbani, Historical Novel Society "It’s a beautifully written book that’s easy to read but hard to put down." ~ The Am-Pol-Eagle Embark on a voyage 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? 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. "Enter the dazzling, treacherous world of Countess Marie Walewska of Poland as she embarks on a clandestine affair with Napoleon to save her beloved country. Brimming with political intrigue, passion and betrayal, Napoleon's Shadow Wife transports readers to a richly imagined 19th century Europe; from glittering palaces and drawing rooms to secret bedrooms and bloody battlefields, Countess Marie never wavers in her devotion to her country . . . or to the only man who can save it. Historical fiction fans will devour this!" ~An Amazon reviewer The Historical Fiction Company Review: Countess Marie Walewska, who has all too frequently been reduced to a historical footnote, is given life, breath, and flesh in James Conroyd Martin's epic novel, which does more than simply draw the contours of a royal mistress. She becomes a multifaceted heroine negotiating the harsh waves of authority, responsibility, love, and identity. The tale begins with a subtly heartbreaking memory: Marie, then eight years old, loses her father in a conflict for Polish sovereignty. This early suffering serves as both an emotional hook and a proclamation of the novel's main topic, which is sacrifice and patriotism. Although Martin's opening line is gentle, it is heavy with foreshadowing. We know right away that Marie is molded by adversity and tenacity; her narrative will serve as a reflection on what it means to bear the burden of a national cause. Martin skillfully crafts a story that is both expansive and personal. The collapse of Poland, Napoleon's ascent and decline, and the shaky prospect of a single nation serve as the backdrop. At its heart, however, is the profoundly human tale of a woman forced into an unwelcome marriage, coerced by powerful men, and coerced into a romance with Napoleon Bonaparte—not out of love but out of national obligation. Martin gives Marie Walewska the respect and realism she merits. She starts off as a young girl who has experienced loss and grows into a strong, intelligent, and courageous lady. She has a deep arc. She retains a strong moral compass even when she is coerced into playing the parts of lover, wife, or daughter. Napoleon is more than just the inscrutable conqueror of history. Without romanticizing him, Martin gives him a human face. In addition to her physical attractiveness, Marie appeals to him because of her moral clarity, youthful idealism, and optimism for Poland. This historical backdrop is given depth by the diverse and exquisitely drawn supporting cast, which includes members of Marie's family and Napoleon's court. Beginning in Poland and traveling through Vienna, Paris, Italy, and Elba, the book's history is expertly structured. Marie feels that her voyage is finished by the time we reach Elba. She is no longer the obedient noblewoman but a woman who has survived and triumphed over betrayals of all kinds, including political, familial, and romantic ones. Despite not being a storybook ending, the conclusion is very moving. The emotional intelligence of Napoleon's Shadow Wife is what distinguishes it from other historical fiction. Marie is not presented as a cunning seductress or a defenseless victim. Rather, she is portrayed as a patriot who puts her nation's destiny ahead of her own happiness—a viewpoint that is rarely seen in tales of royal mistresses. The novel ends in truth, even though it does not finish in victory. The last moments Marie spends on Elba and the impact she leaves on Napoleon are eerie. Long after the last page, the reader is nevertheless reminded of the fact that Josephine and Marie's photos were kept on his bedside table until his passing. The conc