C.M P. (selkie) reviewed King of Rome: A Biography of Napoleon's Tragic Son on + 418 more book reviews
Although considerably more information was available when this was written in comparison to Aubrey's biography of Napoleon II, I still prefer Aubrey's.
Castelot's does little to make Marie Louise look good (though no fault of his own--- it would be a difficult task for any writer, unless they wrote fantasy), is convinced of the prince's poor constitution starting at an early age, and does not reveal much about his short romantic life except in a few short sentences.
His death is explained in great detail, however, the author having the poor Duke of Reichstadt suffering through about a hundred pages, and enforcing what he had prophecized himself, that: "My birth and my death---that is the whole of my story"..."Between my cradle and my tomb there is a great naught".
Castelot's does little to make Marie Louise look good (though no fault of his own--- it would be a difficult task for any writer, unless they wrote fantasy), is convinced of the prince's poor constitution starting at an early age, and does not reveal much about his short romantic life except in a few short sentences.
His death is explained in great detail, however, the author having the poor Duke of Reichstadt suffering through about a hundred pages, and enforcing what he had prophecized himself, that: "My birth and my death---that is the whole of my story"..."Between my cradle and my tomb there is a great naught".
