If you’re anything like me, you love a good historical fiction novel that brings the past to life. And when it comes to fascinating, larger-than-life characters, few are as captivating as Napoleon Bonaparte.
The man, the myth, the emperor – there’s so much to explore! From his rise to power to his exile, Napoleon’s story is full of drama, ambition, and complex relationships.
For this list, I’ve rounded up some brilliant books that offer a fresh take on this legendary figure.
Whether you’re after a sweeping epic or a more intimate look at his life, these novels will transport you right into the heart of one of history’s most talked-about figures.
Disclosure: This post may include affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
The Second Empress focuses on the life of Napoelon’s second wife, Marie-Louise of Austria as she navigates the complexities of her marriage and her role in Napoleon’s empire.
Sharpe’s Waterloo follows Sharpe as he faces the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. Amidst the chaos of war, Sharpe must confront personal and military challenges while fighting to secure a victory that will change the course of history.
The first book in a trilogy about Josephine Bonaparte, this novel follows her journey from a childhood prophecy in Martinique to the heart of European society.
Through fictionalised diaries, we see her first love, betrayal, and eventual meeting with Napoleon, whose fate becomes tied to hers.
Desiree Clary’s life is upended by the French Revolution, leading to a chance encounter with Napoleon Bonaparte.
Despite a secret engagement, Napoleon’s marriage to Josephine de Beauharnais changes everything.
As Desiree navigates Parisian society and becomes entangled with General Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte, she must choose between love and loyalty to her nation amidst the rise and fall of an empire.
Young Bloods by Simon Scarrow follows the early lives of Arthur Wesley (later the Duke of Wellington) and Napoleon Bonaparte, two future giants of history.
Wesley, a firm believer in a monarchy-led nation, heads to battle against the French Republic, while Napoleon, rising through the ranks of the revolutionary army, fights for leadership based on merit. As their empires clash, both men are unaware that their paths will one day determine the fate of Europe.
Désirée by Annemarie Selinko is based on the life of Désirée Clary, who was once engaged to Napoleon Bonaparte before he married Josephine. The novel tells her story, from her early life in Marseille to her eventual role as the Queen of Sweden.
In Becoming Josephine, Heather Webb tells the story of Rose Tascher, who reinvents herself as Josephine after surviving the turmoil of the French Revolution.
Finding Napoleon is based on Napoleon Bonaparte’s real attempt to write a book during his exile. It follows the defeated emperor and his little-known last love, the bold and pregnant Albine de Montholon, as they scheme to escape exile and free his young son
War and Peace revolves around Napoleon’s invasion of Russia in 1812 and follows the lives of three central characters: Pierre Bezukhov, Prince Andrei Bolkonsky and Natasha Rostov.
