Annemarie Selinko (1914–1986)

Román Désirée, čerpajúca z historických prameňov, si získal čitateľov na celom svete a bol aj sfilmovaný. Autorka s pôvabom a vľúdnym humorom rozpráva osudy Désirée Claryové, dcéry marseillského obchodníka s hodvábom a Napoleonovej prvej lásky. Prevratné historické udalosti, Napoleonova cesta ku sláve, jeho pád i drobné udalosti zo zákulisia - to všetko je videné stále trochu udivenými očami jeho mladučkej snúbenice. Désirée trvalo žije v Napoleonovej dôvernej blízkosti, vída ho v kruhu početnej rodiny Bonaparte a potom oficiálne na recepciách a slávnostiach ako manželka francúzskeho maršala Jeana Baptista Bernadotta, neskoršieho švédskeho kráľa. Vzťah Désirée a Napoleona si cez neustále zvraty uchováva zvláštne napätie a nostalgiu prvej lásky.… (más)

This is a history novel I inherited from my great-grandmother, so I wasn’t sure what to expect, but Selinko certainly impressed me. The diary form was smart on her side - it made it possible to smoothly skip months/years in the storyline. Désiréé is such a likeable character, and her story was extraordinary and ordinary at the same time. I particularly liked the diary entries of her youth (getting to know Napoleon, her marriage, etc.) and the latter part of the book.

I’m giving it 4 stars, because I thought the story got a little redundant about midway through and there was too much emphasis on the political events that occurred at that time (although they did teach me a lot about the French revolution!). I’d recommend this to anyone who is interested in French history and royalty.… (más)