P. C. Headley (1819–1903)

Although this book is quite informative, many facts are buried under the flowery language in which the author chose to write. It would have been more appropriate for poetry than a biographical work, however.
Not only this, but long sections go into details of Napoleon’s campaigns when the author would have been better off narrating the intrigues of Josephine while Napoleon was away. (After all, the book was supposed to be about her!) At least Abbot acknowledged the fact that Josephine had been unfaithful even if he preferred to write that she had not been.
The book does praise her merits, maybe overmuch so. However, one does have to take into consideration that at the time this book was written, not only Napoleon but also Josephine was well, were very controversial characters, & that authors of that period were greatly for or vehemently against Bonapartism. Even today, authors have a difficult time writing in a completely unbiased opinion. One can only imagine the difficulty of the task after only a mere thirty-five years had lapsed & grandparents would have been able to provide eyewitness accounts to their grandchildren.… (more)