Napoleon & Josephine: The Sword and the Hummingbird

I've never been one for either historical or romance books, but something about this particular novel keeps me coming back to it every few years. It's utterly captivating, well written, and so vivid. Highly recommend.

I have never had the slightest interest in Napoleon and Josephine, so for the authors to write a story with these people as the subject that I found interesting and enjoyable to read was quite a feat. The Hausmans pulled it off by tracing Josephine's life from childhood on, so that when she meets the ponderous, egomaniacal goof Napoleon, even he seems real and one is able to engage with interest in their topsy turvy relationship. The authors' use of interior monologue, quotations from Napoleon's letters, plus an intimate understanding of the period, makes for a great blend. I would be very surprised if this book doesn't do well for a very long period of time. -David Kherdian

Life is often bitter sweet, and all the more so when history is being made. Here is a another way of viewing French history. One that is from the islands, not the continent. This is a beautifully bound book containing beautifully executed writing.