Title: The Thunderer
Subtitle: A Romance of Napoleon and Josephine
Description: When General Napoleon Bonaparte meets Josephine through Barras, his Commander-in-Chief, he falls in love instantly.

Josephine was previously married to Viscount de Beauharnais. On his execution, she was imprisoned, living in terror. But with Thérèse Tallien’s help, Josephine managed to escape her imprisonment.

As mistress of Barras, Josephine resumes her comfortable life in luxury. Lavishing in freedom and the ability to spend as she wishes. Barras also took on her beloved children, Eugene and Hortense. This had all she ever wanted in life.

However, when Napoleon proposes to Josephine, she is taken back. Not only was he younger than her, but he was in the pay of Barras. He would never be in a position to support her lavish lifestyle … or so she thought!

Eager to rid himself of Josephine, Barras encourages their union. He promises Josephine that she will be able to continue her life in Paris while Napoleon grows his power in Italy.

Confident her life will be no different, Josephine accepts Napoleon’s proposal and they are soon married. Napoleon adores her children and takes them on as his own.

Following their marriage, Napoleon goes to Italy. There, he misses Josephine incredibly and is unable to function. Despite all his love letters to her, he feels she is slipping away. Even his summons for her to join him in Italy are returned with feeble excuses.

As Napoleon’s fame and power grows, Josephine’s inability to provide him with a heir becomes a major issue. Despite his love for Josephine, Napoleon has his share of mistresses. However, they too were unable to give him a child. Could something be wrong with him?

With Josephine wracking up debts, the pressures of power and his barrenness, their lives start to fall apart. He is desperate for an heir and she is desperate to give him one – as this will seal her fate as Empress.

Josephine will stop at nothing to glory in Napoleon’s fame; Napoleon, once so desperately in love, will stop at nothing to have a son … can their relationship survive the pressures upon them?
Subjects: Emperors, Fiction, Historical, Romance
People: Josephine Empress, Consort of Napoleon I, Emperor of the French (1763-1814), Napoleon I Emperor of the French (1769-1821)
Time periods: 19th century