Name: Finding Napoleon
ISBN: 9781647420161

Margaret Rodenberg

In an intriguing adaptation of Napoleon Bonaparte's real attempt to write a novel, the defeated emperor and his little-known last love--the audacious, pregnant Albine de Montholon--plot to escape exile and free his young son. To succeed, Napoleon demands loyalty. To survive, Albine plunges into betrayal.

A Novel

Finding Napoleon

Paige Green

Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book: Finding Napoleon

Author: Margaret Rodenburg

Book Series: Standalone

Rating: 3/5

Recommended For...: historical fiction

Genre: Historical Fiction

Publication Date: April 6, 2021

Publisher: She Writes Press

Pages: 374

Recommended Age: can't recommend, DNFed

Synopsis: With its delightful adaptation of Napoleon Bonaparte's real attempt to write a novel, Finding Napoleon offers a fresh take on Europe's most powerful man after he's lost everything. A forgotten woman of history--Napoleon's last love, the audacious Albine de Montholon--narrates their tale of intrigue, passion, and betrayal. 

After the defeated Emperor Napoleon goes into exile on tiny St. Helena Island in the remote South Atlantic, he and his lover, Albine de Montholon, plot to escape and rescue his young son. Banding together African slaves, British sympathizers, a Jewish merchant, a Corsican rogue, and French followers, they confront British opposition--as well as treachery within their own ranks--with sometimes subtle, sometimes bold, but always desperate action. 
When Napoleon and Albine break faith with one another, ambition and Albine's husband threaten their reconciliation. To succeed, Napoleon must learn whom to trust. To survive, Albine must decide whom to betray.

Two hundred years after Napoleon's death, this elegant, richly researched novel reveals a relationship history conceals.

Review: I had to DNF after 112 pages. While I thought the book was good and I loved the historical aspects of it, I felt like it was too slow for me and it focused too much on the characters rather than the history.

Verdict: It's good just not for me.

Mariya Tuchinskaya 

I really enjoyed this book. As a history buff I’ve found Napoleon’s life and achievements fascinating, because of their impact on European history. In “Finding Napoleon” we meet a Napoleon, who is in reduced circumstances after the Battle of Waterloo, but who has not truly conceded defeat. In exile on St. Helena, he is accompanied by a select few including Albine de Montholon. Albine is the wife of one of his generals and an aristocratic survivor of the French revolution, who becomes Napoleon’s last mistress.

While reading this book I found that Margaret Rodenberg did a great job of seamlessly combining the novel begun by a young Napoleon with his time in exile. The novel helps us get a glimpse into the mind of this contradictory man and allows us to better understand his relationship to Albine. Throughout the course of the novel I found myself sympathizing with these characters even though neither are what one would consider to be good people. Albine is very much the product fo the French Revolution. Having narrowly escaped execution, she is left with a severe case of PTSD and a desire for safety that she can never seem to obtain. Throughout the story she is caught between her husband and Napoleon. She loves them both in her own way and both men seek to use her for their own purposes. Though her choices are questionable, I feel bad for this woman who had experiences so many horrors in her life and found herself with few choices.

Then there is Napoleon himself. As his novel shows, Napoleon is also a product of revolution. First in Corsica and then in France. Yet while both revolutions espoused radical change neither were ultimately able to fully bring them about. It is little wonder then that while Napoleon sought to overturn the world order he also floundered in the attempt, as exemplified by his actions in Haiti. Meanwhile, his relationship with women seems to be colored by his relationship with his mother. While it may sound Freudian, Albine, Eugenie and his beloved Josephine remind me of how Napoleon describes his mother. All three women use their bodies for advancement and are faithless. Napoleon seems to reject all three, but at the same time is helplessly drawn to them.

Overall, I give this book a 5 out of 5. The plot is engaging and the author does a great job of getting the reader to sympathize with the main characters. I found the ending very poignant and a perfect way to end this story. If you enjoy reading about history then I think this is definitely the book for you.

For more reviews like this check out my blog at reviewsbym.com

Finding Napoleon A Novel

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