Napoleon in America

[Sicarius]

Anybody read this?

The year is 1821. Former French Emperor Napoleon has been imprisoned on a dark wart in the Atlantic since his defeat at Waterloo in 1815. Rescued in a state of near-death by Gulf pirate Jean Laffite, Napoleon lands in New Orleans, where he struggles to regain his health aided by voodoo priestess Marie Laveau. Opponents of the Bourbon regime expect him to reconquer France. French Canadians beg him to seize Canada from Britain. American adventurers urge him to steal Texas from Mexico. His brother Joseph pleads with him to settle peacefully in New Jersey. As Napoleon restlessly explores his new land, he frets about his legacy. He fears for the future of his ten-year-old son, trapped in the velvet fetters of the Austrian court. While the British, French and American governments follow his activities with growing alarm, remnants of the Grande Armée flock to him with growing anticipation. Are Napoleon's intentions as peaceful as he says they are? If not, does he still have the qualities necessary to lead a winning campaign?

I just finished it and I thought it was great. You can tell that it has been vigorously researched. The author really seemed to capture the voices of the historical characters and everything is put together in a way that is entertaining without being silly or improbable (the snippet above vastly overstates the presence of Marie Laveau). I'm perhaps biased because it injects Napoleon into one of my favorite topics (Texas history), but I enjoyed it a lot.

 

[Thande]

Anybody read this?
I just finished it and I thought it was great. You can tell that it has been vigorously researched. The author really seemed to capture the voices of the historical characters and everything is put together in a way that is entertaining without being silly or improbable (the snippet above vastly overstates the presence of Marie Laveau). I'm perhaps biased because it injects Napoleon into one of my favorite topics (Texas history), but I enjoyed it a lot.

That does sound interesting. Do they bring up the OTL plan around this time to make him Emperor of a United States of South America?

 

[fortyseven]

It's on my To-Read list.

 

[Alstein]

Does it have Ney as a North Carolina schoolteacher? That's a local legend around these parts, with some proof given for it.

 

[Faeelin]

I bought it. It's very... interesting so far. It reads as if it was intended to be a TV show.

 

[Namayan]

I like reading it. Texas history if you insert Napoleon. Quite interesting that it teased Napoleon's "liberation" of French Canada.

With regards to Empire of South America, it never got to that part. The story was cut short, mostly about the journey of Napoleon from his escape to winning a battle in North America and tensions/effects of his escape among other countries. Nor do I remember reading anything that Napoleon was offered a crown.