Download the Popular Authors Audiobooks in Fiction, Historical

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Title: Mary

Subtitle: Mrs. A. Lincoln

Author: Janis Cooke Newman

Narrator: Anne Buelteman

Format: Unabridged

Length: 26 hrs and 39 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-09-13

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 35 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

A fascinating and intimate novel of the life of Mary Todd Lincoln, narrated by the First Lady herself.

Mary Todd Lincoln is one of history's most misunderstood and enigmatic women. She was a political strategist, a supporter of emancipation, and a mother who survived the loss of three children and the assassination of her beloved husband. She also ran her family into debt, held séances in the White House, and was committed to an insane asylum - which is where Janis Cooke Newman's debut novel begins.

From her room in Bellevue Place, Mary chronicles her tempestuous childhood in a slaveholding Southern family and takes listeners through the years after her husband's death, revealing the ebbs and flows of her passion and depression, her poverty and ridicule, and her ultimate redemption.

Members Reviews:

Intriguing and well-written, Worst editing EVER.

This story is compelling as a possibility of the lives of the Lincolns. It really made me think about the Civil War from a woman's perspective, including the fear and anxiety that must come from having your home and family threatened constantly, as well as the overwhelming grief of losing so many family members in such traumatic ways. I believe historical information contradicts some of the story, particularly how dispassionate and almost loveless Abraham appears towards Mary. The author also omits certain notable aspects of Mary's emotional breakdowns. Even so, I did appreciate the alternative possible explanations of Mary, her motives and her actions, which I think is sorely lacking in a lot of historical reports. The narrator did a great job. BUT (and it's a big one), this is the worst edited story I've ever listened to. A large section from Part 1 is missing (starting just after Eddie passes), jumping to when Willie and Tad are 5/6 years old, This important part suddenly reemerges at the beginning of Part 2, interrupting the story as it is leading to Lincoln's election. This makes it disjointed and hard to follow. Also, at least five times, you hear the narrator say "going back" or "pick up" when she flubs a line. I've never heard such poor editing in a book.

Somewhat Disappointing

I was very interested in the main subject of this book, Mary Todd Lincoln's confinement to Belleview Hospital for the Insane, which was granted by her son Robert's petition to the court. I wondered if being present at her husband's assassination had driven her mad, and I had heard that much of Robert's motivation was to get his hands on her money.

Newman does a good job of depicting life in the asylum, and, as a reader, I was frustrated by the restrictions put upon Mary. She could not spend a penny, move a foot, have a single visitor, or send a letter without Robert's express permission--a situation that must have been hard on the former first lady. The author takes us back through events in Mary's life that strongly influenced her: the death of her mother and her father's remarriage to an unaffectionate stepmother who sent her off to boarding school; family resistance to her engagement to Lincoln; the death of her sons; newspaper attacks; the assassination; etc. But on the whole, Mary does not come off sympathetically.

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Title: The Children Of The New Forest

Author: Frederick Marryat

Narrator: Barnaby Edwards

Format: Unabridged

Length: 12 hrs and 43 mins

Language: English

Release date: 05-07-13

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 26 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Captain Marryat's The Children of the New Forest is a wonderful tale in narrative, historically rich and quite fascinating. This story of adventure, treachery, and love takes place during the English Civil War, when fellow countrymen are found enemies, and are set against each other, Roundhead and Cavalier, Parliament and the King. Many hoped for the same thing: justice. But, for a long time, neither could find it. In the midst of all were the Beverlies, the family of a faithful Cavalier, who died in service of the king. His four children were left orphaned when their mother died of grief. Then, word came to them that the Roundheads were going to burn down their estate, Arnwood. Fate sent them into the hands of an old forester, Jacob Armitage, and they escaped to his cottage. From there, the story unfolds. It is a classic worthy of shelving in libraries, in private or in public collections, recommended by many educators with all due praise.

Captain Frederick Marryat (July 10, 1792 August 9, 1848) was an English Royal Navy officer, novelist, and a contemporary and acquaintance of Charles Dickens, noted today as an early pioneer of the sea story. He is now known particularly for the semi-autobiographical novel Mr Midshipman Easy and his children's novel The Children of the New Forest, and for a widely used system of maritime flag signalling. From 1832 to 1835 Marryat edited The Metropolitan Magazine. He kept producing novels, with his biggest success, Mr Midshipman Easy, coming in 1836. He lived in Brussels for a year, travelled in Canada and the United States, then moved to London in 1839, where he was in the literary circle of Charles Dickens and others. He was in North America in 1837 when the Rebellion of that year in Lower Canada broke out, and served with the British forces in suppressing it. He was named a Fellow of the Royal Society in recognition of his invention and other achievements. In 1843 he moved to a small farm at Manor Cottage in Norfolk, where he died in 1848.

His daughter Florence Marryat later became well-known as a writer and actress. His son Francis Samuel Marryat completed his late novel The Little Savage. Marryat's novels are characteristic of their time, with the concerns of family connections and social status often overshadowing the naval action, but they are interesting as fictional renditions of the author's 25 years of real-life experience at sea. These novels, much admired by Joseph Conrad and Ernest Hemingway, were among the first sea novels. They were models for later works by C. S. Forester and Patrick O'Brian that were also set in the time of Nelson and told the stories of young men rising through the ranks through successes as naval officers. His later novels were generally for the children's market, including his most famous novel for contemporary readers, The Children of the New Forest, which was published in 1847 and set in the countryside surrounding the village of Sway, Hampshire.

Editorial Reviews:

In the opening of this historical adventure tale Captain Frederick Marryat directly addresses his juvenile audience, telling them to look up 1647, the year in which his narrative takes place. The historical backdrop is thus set as the English Civil War.

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Title: Animating Maria

Author: M. C. Beaton

Narrator: Lindy Nettleton

Format: Unabridged

Length: 5 hrs and 19 mins

Language: English

Release date: 04-04-13

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 52 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Maria Kendall is stunningly beautiful, impeccably mannered, effortlessly graceful - in short, a perfect candidate for marriage. Thus all of polite London society is astonished that she is the latest charge of Amy and Effy Tribble, eccentric spinsters specializing in making matches for unmarriageable misses. But when Marias suitors - among them the roguish and exceedingly aristocratic Duke of Berham - meet her vulgar and boorish parents, proposals of marriage invariably vanish. Now the Tribbles face their greatest challenge - taking on, not only Maria, but the hopelessly common Kendalls as well.

Members Reviews:

Absolutely Love the Flawed Characters

Any additional comments?

This is the first book I have read since I became interested in reading about a year and a half ago that I have read a book where characters are all so real and flawed. Truly refreshing to see that. I LOVED this book because of it.

The plot is about miss Maria Kendall who is sent to a special school to learn to behave properly for the polite society. The people who truly should be there though are her vulgar parents. They are very rich indeed but have such terrible manners that they repel anyone from the society who meets them therefore reducing their daughters chances of making a good connection. On her way to London, she meets the Duke of Berham in an Inn but their interaction is very poor. Later when in London his mother places an announcement in the paper regarding his engagement to the beautiful Maria in the hopes of seeing her son married. Though both are shocked about the announcement they decide on an agreement that is beneficial to both and resolve to go along with it. But that is the case until the Duke meets her parents and all bets are off after that.

The book is very good but the narration is poor. Try and overlook that or you can miss out on the book.

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Title: The Chequer Board

Author: Nevil Shute

Narrator: Paul Panting

Format: Unabridged

Length: 11 hrs and 35 mins

Language: English

Release date: 12-22-12

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 90 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

John Turner, a young man with a chequered past, has been told he has just one year to live. He decides to use his remaining time to search of three very different men he met briefly during the war: a snobbish British pilot, a young corporal accused of murder, and a black G.I. accused of attempted rape. Along the way, Turner learns about forgiveness, tolerance, and second chances, and overcomes his fear of death.

Critic Reviews:

Not only a brilliantly fluent storyteller but also an ironic commentator on the world scene. (Harpers & Queen)

"As a novelist, Nevil Shute goes from strength to strength, experimenting, drawing out life as he sees it, and setting it before us in ordered pattern." (Punch)

"Shute is a storyteller of an uncommonly veracious stamp, whose performance is more remarkable that his quiet and refreshing modest airs might suggest." (Times Literary Supplement)

Members Reviews:

Dated? Not this one.

Would you listen to The Chequer Board again? Why?

I had read the book in print years ago, and was moved by it then. I found it even more moving in Audio. yes, I would listen to it again.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Chequer Board?

The moment when he tells his wife, normally a remote person, that he does not have long to live and the way she shows her compassion towards him. I love the restrained portrayal of the hero and his wife.

What does Paul Panting bring to the story that you wouldnt experience if you just read the book?

He reads it in a way that fully encompasses and is sympathetic to the period in which the book was set.

Any additional comments?

I had read only one other Nevile Shute book, ' Town Like Alice', before this one. Now I will definitely listen to others, as they lend themselves so well to Audiobooks.

Another Treasure By This Author!

It seems that every book I read by this author is better than the ones before. That's probably not true since I have thoroughly enjoyed all of them, including this gem. So far I have never been disappointed and plan to listen to all that are recorded as audiobooks. Perhaps, if I can ever find time to sit down and actually read a print book, I'll delve into even those that are not.

I am always sorry when I finish a Nevil Shute novel even though I compulsively listen as often and as long as I can which causes me to leave these wonderful characters sooner than I would like. And yet, each tale ends as it must and at the proper time. This one did as well.

What a treasured legacy this author has left, for me at least!

Another great story..

Love Nevil Shute! If you want to learn about England in the 30's & 40's, he's your guy.

a good story

The story kept me interested all the way. Much better than average. Will listen to more Shute

A good old-fashioned yarn

I really like Nevil Shute stories.

They are simple, and moral, and have an old-fashioned innocence to them. But they are also extremely 'hooky', and never let you spend even a moment of the book without wondering what will happen next.

This is no exception. It ticks all the Shute boxes, and, if there were pages to turn, it'd be a right old page turner. I suppose the audiobook version is a 'car-park waiter'...

The narrator tell the tale well. Gently paced, and sympathetic to the characters.

A right good read!

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Title: Mademoiselle Boleyn

Author: Robin Maxwell

Narrator: Suzan Crowley

Format: Unabridged

Length: 13 hrs and 2 mins

Language: English

Release date: 12-17-12

Publisher: Brilliance Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 54 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

When her father is assigned the task of spying on the French Court, the charming and sweetly innocent Anne Boleyn is delighted by the thought of a new adventure. And she is not to be disappointed, for her beautiful sister, Mary, has been handed a mission: to let herself be seduced by the King of France in order to uncover his secrets. Mesmerized by the thrilling passion, intrigue, and betrayal that unfolds, Anne discovers the power of being a woman who catches the eye of a powerful king. And, as she grows into a beautiful young woman, she undergoes her own sexual awakening, each daring exploit taking her one step closer to the life that is her destiny.

Members Reviews:

Great Book

I have read several books about Anne's life at the English court with Henry VIII. I really enjoyed looking at her life at the French court. This was such an interesting and well written account.

Average historical novel.

Is there anything you would change about this book?

The characterisation is poor. Although it is an original look on Boleyn's youth, a lot of the characters and events are spurious.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

It was an interesting concept to narrate the early years off Boleyn's life

What three words best describe Suzan Crowleys performance?

Adequate, not special

Interesting

This is a great little read for people who like historical fiction.

The book has interesting characters and a full story line.

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Title: To Glory We Steer

Author: Alexander Kent

Narrator: Michael Jayston

Format: Unabridged

Length: 12 hrs and 21 mins

Language: English

Release date: 12-13-12

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 89 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

January 1782, Portsmouth. His Britannic Majesty's frigate Phalarope is ordered to the assistance of the hard-pressed squadrons in the Caribbean. Aboard is her new commander - Richard Bolitho.

To all appearances the Phalarope is everything a young captain could wish for. But beneath the surface she is a deeply unhappy ship - her wardroom torn by petty greed and ambition, her deckhands driven to near mutiny by senseless ill treatment.

Members Reviews:

Steer your way to this one.

Hooray !!

Four more British Navy novels in the tradition of Patrick O'Brian/Jack Aubrey and Horatio Hornblower.They are in time sequence:To Glory We Steer[1782],

The Flag Captain[1797],Success to The Brave[1802] and Colours Aloft[1803]

Google Wik-apedia for a complete list.

My only complaint is that these books were released by Audible in December 2012 and I had to research and find out on my own when they had been released.I must have over 20 of this genre .

Alexander Kent is in what you might think of as in he Big three of British Sea novel authors [with the two aforementioned].Like the other two he tells a good story that culminates in grand finale fashion..

His novels do have more battle action but there are still plenty of ongoing characters and continuations of story threads from book to book.The Aubrey and Hornblower arn't better,All three have there own personalities with the bond of common subject matter.

Michael Jayston is an excellent narrator.With his character accent/dialogue voice characterizations you truly experience the difference between reading a good book and hearing a good story.Personally I like hearing about the daily life activities and experiences

of shipboard life as much as the "Battle narratives'.

While this is a series,I THINK YOU CAN ENJOY ANY BOOK BY ITSELF IN ANY ORDER.[It's something like hearing stories about your parents when they were young].

I don't see how anyone who likes a good story would not enjoy this series.

Try one,anyone in the series will do..To Glory We Steer won't disappoint.

Another great sea story

Love all of the Bolitho series. Anyone who enjoys the Hornblower stories will surely enjoy these.

a look back in history

I have read all of the bolitho series by Alexander kent. reading the books was a look back in history. but to hear the books read it makes you feel as if you are on the deck with captain bolthio.

Adventure at sea.

Any additional comments?

I bought this because I had exhausted Patrick O'Brien's Aubrey-Maturin series. I loved it, it's a good solid adventure on the high seas. None of the characters seemed as real or three-dimensional as O'Brien's characters, but it's still an excellent, immersive and satisfying maritime tale.

Excellent reading

Another thrilling book by Alexander Kent. Looking forward to the next one in the series

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Title: An Old Captivity

Author: Nevil Shute

Narrator: Cameron Stewart

Format: Unabridged

Length: 9 hrs and 59 mins

Language: English

Release date: 11-16-12

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 68 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Young pilot Donald Ross has little in common with the Oxford don who has employed him on an expedition to the Arctic - and still less with his beautiful but stubborn daughter, Alix. But once the three of them reach the treacherous shores of Greenland, their destinies are inextricably bound by the events that unfold there.

Critic Reviews:

Exhibits his talents at their provocative best (New York Times)

"Nevil Shute's books always have a real hero... intensely romantic along with the realism, intensely real along with the romanticism, and peculiarly absorbing." (Sunday Times)

Members Reviews:

Nevil, Were You Called To Dinner?

I love Nevil Shute's books. I thoroughly enjoyed In Old Captivity up until the ending. My goodness, what an ending dear Nevil came up with for this book. The story line was flowing along, building upon growing relationships and trust between the main characters and then . . . apparently Mr. Shute had a deadline to meet, or a dinner growing cold. Instead of seeing the storyline through, the author seemed to write a quick, silly, ending to In Old Captivity. Still, up until that point, the book was another good read (or listen) by the great writer.

The narrator, Cameron Stewart, has a fine male voice. His "female" voice sounds a bit like your Uncle Fred imitating your grandmother. It's a little annoying at first but it doesn't take away from the overall narration. (Luckily there are few females in the story)

Would I recommend In Old Captivity? For those of us that are Nevil Shute fans - yes. However this book is not a good choice to introduce or intice readers to Nevil Shute. Of the 7 books written by Nevil Shute that I've read so far, In Old Captivity was my least favorite. That being said, I'm still a great fan of Shute's writing and glad I read In Old Captivity.

Another fascinating and uplifting Shute book

Where does An Old Captivity rank among all the audiobooks youve listened to so far?

Can't say, was my first one. Felt like listening to a friend.

What did you like best about this story?

The sympathetic characters

Which scene was your favorite?

The little incideent during the first mooring of the plane

If you could take any character from An Old Captivity out to dinner, who would it be and why?

The pilot His undoncitional devotion to his profession indpires deep respect

Any additional comments?

Again, Shute does not only entertain. He introduces you to a new world of facts and gives you lkong lasting memories.

Disappointing for a Neil Shute fan...

I loved "A Town Like Alice," and "Pied Piper," but did not feel the same enthusiasm for this book. Especially in view of the realism of the book, the ending was just too fantastical to be credible. I was really fond of the characters and hoped to enjoy an understandable happy ending with them. The premise of the story is very interesting, but a lot of time, probably necessarily, but a bit dull, is devoted to checking the weather and finding good landing sites. However, I'm not discouraged and have already purchased another book by this excellent author!

LOVED IT! GREAT STORY + EXCELLENT NARRATION

If you could sum up An Old Captivity in three words, what would they be?

LOVED IT! GREAT STORY + EXCELLENT NARRATION.

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Title: Victory at Yorktown

Subtitle: A Novel

Author: Newt Gingrich, William R. Fortschen

Narrator: William Dufris

Format: Unabridged

Length: 12 hrs and 2 mins

Language: English

Release date: 11-13-12

Publisher: Macmillan Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 88 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

New York Times best-selling authors Newt Gingrich's and William R. Forstchen's George Washington series continues - in a novel about faith, leadership, and the triumph of the American cause.

It is 1781, and Washington and his army have spent three years in a bitter stalemate, engaging in near constant skirmishing against the British. The enemy position in New York City is too strong, all approaches blocked by the Royal Navy. At last, two crucial reports reach Washington. The first is that the French have briefly committed a fleet to the American coast. The second is that British General Cornwallis, driven to distraction by protracted warfare in the Carolinas, has withdrawn into Yorktown. Washington decides to embark on one of the most audacious moves in American military history. He will force-march nearly his entire army south more than 300 miles, in complete secrecy, counting on a blockade of the Chesapeake Bay by the French navy, fall upon Cornwallis, and capture his entire force. It is a campaign ladened with "ifs" but the stalemate must be broken, otherwise America, after six long years of war, will crumble.

Sgt. Peter Wellsley must pave the way for the army, neutralizing any loyalists who might provide warning. On the other side, Allen Van Dorn receives reports from civilians that something is afoot and is tasked to find out what. As Wellsley moves to block any leaks, Van Dorn tries to penetrate the screen. When one of the former friends is captured, both must decide where their true loyalties lie during the heat of the Battle of Yorktown, as Washingtons professional army, once a "rabble in arms", executes the wars most decisive contest.

Members Reviews:

If only all Americans would find their way to this History

Thank you Both for writing history and for sharing with us characters that we have either forgotten or under appreciated.

Your history books deepen my American Pride.

And yes, appreciating the French like never before.

I am grateful for learning about the men that played on the stage of history. Their stories themselves are so remarkable, you can't make this stuff up. Thank you for teaching us about them in the manner and method in which you did.

Interesting, but disappointing

What made the experience of listening to Victory at Yorktown the most enjoyable?

It was an interesting aspect of history

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

A bit disappointing -- I would have liked more discussion of the negotiation process and results.

Which scene was your favorite?

Not sure

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

No

Any additional comments?

I found this disappointing for a few reasons:

1) I've enjoyed the authors' "Active History" books (Civil War and WW II) and thought this was one. It's not so it initially looked like a history book with fictional interactions (like "Killer Angels"). However, the authors spent so much time on the stories of Peter and Alan that it ultimately seemed more like a historical fiction book.

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Title: In Sunlight and in Shadow

Author: Mark Helprin

Narrator: Sean Runnette

Format: Unabridged

Length: 29 hrs and 52 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-02-12

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 136 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Mark Helprins enchanting and sweeping novel asks a simple question: can love and honor conquer all?

New York in 1947 glows with postwar energy. Harry Copeland, an elite paratrooper who fought behind enemy lines in Europe, returns home to run the family business. In a single, magical encounter on the Staten Island ferry, the young singer and heiress Catherine Thomas Hale falls for him instantly but too late to prevent her engagement to a much older man. Harry and Catherine pursue one another in a romance played out in postwar Americas Broadway theaters, Long Island mansions, the offices of financiers, and the haunts of gangsters. Catherines choice of Harry over her longtime fiancé endangers Harrys livelihood - and eventually threatens his life.

Entrancing in its lyricism,In Sunlight and in Shadowso powerfully draws you into New York at the dawn of the modern age that, as in a vivid dream, you will not want to leave.

About the author: Mark Helprin was educated at Harvard, Princeton, Columbia, and Oxford. He served in the Israeli military and the British Merchant Navy. He is the acclaimed author of Winters Tale and numerous other works.

Critic Reviews:

In this prodigious, enfolding saga of exalted romance in corrupt, postwar New York, resplendent storyteller Helprin creates a supremely gifted and principled heroHelprins suspenseful, many-stranded plot is unfailingly enthralling. The sumptuous settings are intoxicating. The novels seething indictment of mobster rule in the 1940s is bracing, and the lovers high-stakes predicaments are heartbreaking. Helprins personal articles of faith shape every scene as he expresses deep respect for soldiers, sensitivity to anti-Semitism and racism, and stalwart belief in valor and individual exceptionalism. So declarative is this philosophical tale that it can be read as Helprins spiritual and lyrical answer to the big, bossy, and enduring novels of Ayn Rand. (Booklist, starred review)

Elegant, elegiacA fine adult love story - not in the prurient sense, but in the sense of lovers elevated from smittenness to all the grownup problems that a relationship can bring. (Kirkus Reviews,starred review)

Glorious and golden, truly like reentering another world where another sensibility prevails and even the sunlight and shadow have a different weight. (Library Journal)

Members Reviews:

Great Insomnia Listening

This is sort-of a compliment. I suffer from bouts of insomnia, and have found that putting on an audiobook to occupy my brain is a great way to get back to sleep at 4 in the morning. It's also a great way to listen to a book without any of the distractions of the outside world, and really listen to the writing.

This only becomes problematic when a story becomes engaging (for instance, I initially started listening to Little Dorrit to put myself back to sleep, but at some point became so interested in the story that I would wake up and rewind back to hear what I'd slept through.)

So far, I have found In Sunlight and in Shadow is a perfect book to fall back to sleep to. The writing is dreamlike, lyrical and descriptive, the plot pacing so slow and the narration so generally monotone (there's nothing worse then when a male narrator badly imitates a woman's voice -- the pitch change can shock you back awake) that this is perfect insomnia listening.

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Title: The Second Empress

Subtitle: A Novel of Napoleon's Court

Author: Michelle Moran

Narrator: Adam Alexi-Malle, Emma Bering, Tanya Franks

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10 hrs and 42 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-14-12

Publisher: Random House Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 159 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

National best-selling author Michelle Moran returns to Paris, this time under the rule of Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte as he casts aside his beautiful wife to marry a Hapsburg princess he hopes will bear him a royal heir....

After the bloody French Revolution, Emperor Napoleons power is absolute. When Marie-Louise, the 18-year-old daughter of the King of Austria, is told that the Emperor has demanded her hand in marriage, her father presents her with a terrible choice: marry the cruel, capricious Napoleon, leaving the man she loves and her home forever, or say no, and plunge her country into war.

Marie-Louise knows what she must do, and she travels to France, determined to be a good wife despite Napoleons reputation. But lavish parties greet her in Paris, and at the extravagant French court, she finds many rivals for her husbands affection, including Napoleons first wife, Joséphine, and his sister Pauline, the only woman as ambitious as the emperor himself. Beloved by some and infamous to many, Pauline is fiercely loyal to her brother. She is also convinced that Napoleon is destined to become the modern Pharaoh of Egypt. Indeed, her greatest hope is to rule alongside him as his queen - a brother-sister marriage just as the ancient Egyptian royals practiced. Determined to see this dream come to pass, Pauline embarks on a campaign to undermine the new empress and convince Napoleon to divorce Marie-Louise.

As Paulines insightful Haitian servant, Paul, watches these two women clash, he is torn between his love for Pauline and his sympathy for Marie-Louise. But there are greater concerns than Paulines jealousy plaguing the court of France. While Napoleon becomes increasingly desperate for an heir, the empires peace looks increasingly unstable. When war once again sweeps the continent and bloodshed threatens Marie-Louises family in Austria, the second Empress is forced to make choices that will determine her place in history - and change the course of her life.

Based on primary resources from the time, The Second Empress takes readers back to Napoleons empire, where royals and servants alike live at the whim of one man, and two women vie to change their destinies.

Critic Reviews:

"Compelling fiction.... Ostensibly the portrait of Marie-Louise of Austria, who became Napoleon's second wife, the novel's title could as easily apply to the emperor's sister, Pauline.... Another enjoyable historical from Moran." (Publishers Weekly)

Members Reviews:

Good story, poor performance

I did like this story, although I found the accented narration very distracting. Granted they're Corsicans in France, but speaking with an accent that obstructs the narration doesn't make the story more authentic. Some parts were difficult to understand.

Distracting Performance

Would you try another book from Michelle Moran and/or the narrators?

Yes - I've read Moran's Egyptian series and loved those!

What didnt you like about the narratorss performance?

The pacing was incredibly slow.

You didnt love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

It was interesting to hear about Napoleon's court, in particular his second wife and sister Pauline.