DESIREE The Bestselling Story of Napoleon's First Love

Nicole Quinn's performance breathes new life into this moving and memorable story of Désirée Clary, Napoleon Bonaparte's first fiancée and lifelong friend. Presented as a series of diary entries over the course of her eventful life, Désirée's story not only sheds light on the life of a fascinating woman but also captures in haunting detail some of the century's most extraordinary personalities. Quinn admirably captures Désirée's unique voice at each stage of her life, from teenage petulance and crushing heartbreak to the confident tones of her eventual rise to royalty in the heyday of Napoleon's reign. While some secondary characters are occasionally difficult to distinguish, Quinn portrays Bonaparte and his colleagues with subtle but irresistible power, bringing listeners as close to the Great Emperor as Désirée herself. B.E.K. © AudioFile 2013, Portland, Maine [Published: MARCH 2013]