A biography of Josephine, the wife of Napoleon Bonaparte and first Empress consort of France. To her subjects, she appeared to vet hew most favored woman in France: alluring, wealthy, and with the devoted love of a remarkable husband who was the conqueror of Europe. Actually, Josephine's life was far darker, for her celebrated allure was fading, her wealth was compromised by massive debt, and her marriage was corroded by infidelity and abuse. Researched thoroughly by the author, Louise Muhlbach, this edition includes over 130 detailed annotations, footnotes and references.