The Queen's Fortune by Allison Pataki

The Queen's Fortune by Allison Pataki

A sweeping novel about the extraordinary woman who captured Napoleon's heart, created a dynasty, and changed the course of history--from the New York Times bestselling author of The Traitor's Wife, The Accidental Empress, and Sisi

"I absolutely loved The Queen's Fortune, the fascinating, little-known story of Desiree Clary--the woman Napoleon left for Josephine--who ultimately triumphed and became queen of Sweden."--Martha Hall Kelly, New York Times bestselling author of Lilac Girls

As the French revolution ravages the country, Desiree Clary is faced with the life-altering truth that the world she has known and loved is gone and it's fallen on her to save her family from the guillotine.

A chance encounter with Napoleon Bonaparte, the ambitious and charismatic young military prodigy, provides her answer. When her beloved sister Julie marries his brother Joseph, Desiree and Napoleon's futures become irrevocably linked. Quickly entering into their own passionate, dizzying courtship that leads to a secret engagement, they vow to meet in the capital once his career has been secured. But her newly laid plans with Napoleon turn to sudden heartbreak, thanks to the rising star of Parisian society, Josephine de Beauharnais. Once again, Desiree's life is turned on its head.

Swept to the glittering halls of the French capital, Desiree is plunged into the inner circle of the new ruling class, becoming further entangled with Napoleon, his family, and the new Empress. But her fortunes shift once again when she meets Napoleon's confidant and star general, the indomitable Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte. As the two men in Desiree's life become political rivals and military foes, the question that arises is: must she choose between the love of her new husband and the love of her nation and its Emperor?

From the lavish estates of the French Riviera to the raucous streets of Paris and Stockholm, Desiree finds herself at the epicenter of the rise and fall of an empire, navigating a constellation of political giants and dangerous, shifting alliances. Emerging from an impressionable girl into a fierce young woman, she discovers that to survive in this world she must learn to rely upon her instincts and her heart.

Allison Pataki's meticulously researched and brilliantly imagined novel sweeps readers into the unbelievable life of a woman almost lost to history--a woman who, despite the swells of a stunning life and a tumultuous time, not only adapts and survives but, ultimately, reigns at the helm of a dynasty that outlasts an empire.

Allison Pataki is the author of The Queen's Fortune, The Traitor's Wife, The Accidental Empress, Sisi: Empress On Her Own, and Where the Light Falls, as well as the nonfiction memoir Beauty in the Broken Places and two children's books, Nelly Takes New York and Poppy Takes Paris, which have all been New York Times bestsellers. More than a dozen languages have been translated into her works. Pataki, a former news writer and producer, has contributed to publications such as The New York Times, ABC News, HuffPost, USA Today, Fox News, and others. Today, Fox & Friends, Good Day New York, Good Day Chicago, and MSNBC's Morning Joe have all featured her. Pataki earned a bachelor's degree in English from Yale University and worked in journalism for several years before turning to fiction writing. She resides in New York with her husband and family and is a member of the Historical Novel Society.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9780593128206
ISBN 10	0593128206
Title	The Queen's Fortune
Author	Allison Pataki
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Paperback
Publisher	Random House USA Inc
Year published	2021-02-16
Number of pages	464
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.