who became allied to the author of this work by marriage, was the intimate friend of Napoleon, and figured in most of the

BRILLIANT ENGAGEMENTS

which rendered him the greatest military captain of the age. No interruption took place in the intimacy which she enjoyed, so that in all these scenes, embracing a period of nearly

THIRTY YEARS,

the Duchess became familiar with all the secret springs of

NAPOLEON’S ACTIONS,

either through her husband or by her own personal knowledge and observation at the Court of Napoleon.

JOSEPHINE,

whose life and character so peculiarly attract the attention of all readers, occupies a great part of the first volume. The character and the deeds of