Wondrous Beauty: The Life and Adventures of Elizabeth Patterson Bonaparte

Elizabeth Patterson Bonaparte (1785–1879) was a curiosity. An American from Baltimore, she married the youngest brother of Napoleon Bonaparte. The marriage, which did not last long, won her instant and lifelong notoriety. Napoleon banned her from Europe and rewarded his brother with the kingship of Westphalia for divorcing her. Elizabeth fled to London, where she gave birth to a son. She then returned to Baltimore, sought and won a pension from the French government, and concerned herself with intellectualism. Despite the great challenges she faced in her personal life and from the oppressive, patriarchal society, Elizabeth achieved something so few women were able to achieve in the 19th century: independence. Narrator Tara Hugo brings the 19th century to life and is especially convincing as the voice of Elizabeth.