Josephine (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1895 edition. Excerpt: ...family, at a later period, by marriage with her daughter. At this time shone forth the genius of Napoleon, as an organizer of victory and government, as a reconstructer of society, as a king-maker and civic ruler, which was only surpassed by his genius as a commander of armies. In the moral conquest of Italy Bonaparte was ably assisted by his wife, who won the hearts of the people while he fought their battles. He himself has borne testimony to this fact in his famous epigram: "I win battles, Josephine wins me hearts." But it was not long the happy pair were to enjoy each other's society, for the exigencies of the war called Napoleon again to the field. That he had not allowed his love to weaken him or to cause him to forget the art of winning battles, was soon shown by the victories of Roveredo and Bassano, September 4th and 8th, which drove his antagonist into Mantua, with the shattered remnant of his army. There is in existence a letter of Josephine's which is of great value as indicating the relative locations of the members of her family at this period: --Milan, 6th September, 1796. " M. the Duke of Serbelloni leaves at once for Paris, and he has promised me, my dear Hortense, to call on you the morning after his arrival. He will tell you how often I speak of thee, think of thee, and how much I love thee. Eugene shares with you these sentiments, my dear daughter; I love you both to adoration. M. Serbelloni will give thee, from Bonaparte and myself, some little souvenirs, for thee, Emilie (daughter of the Marquise Frangoise de Beauharnais) Eugene, and Jerome (the youngest brother of Napoleon, who had been placed in the same school with Eugene). Kindest remembrances to Mme. Campan, to whom I hope to send some beautiful Italian engravings....