This book puts aside the vicious stories of Josephine de Beauharnais being a heartless, self-seeker that used men to her own advantage only to discard them when they no longer served a purpose. One the contrary, it is a portrait of a loving, devoted mother, & a sensitive, caring soul that enchanted everyone around her, with the singular exception of Bonaparte’s family, of course.
Even if she may not have loved Bonaprate when they first married, it certainly cannot be denied that she did come to love him soon after, despite the indiscretions of both parties.
It is interesting to note that most books refer to the divorce as “the sacrifice of Josephine”. An example of the Emperor’s devotion toward Josephine (besides the ardent love letters written at the beginning of the relationship) is the fact that he decreed she maintain the title of empress even after the divorce, that he was unable to wait two days [after the divorce] before calling on her at Malmaison, not to mention the fact that his last words on his deathbed were of her [according to most sources, real or not]. ( )