Available in paperback from all good bookshops and also on Kindle from Amazon
The true story of Marie-Louise, Duchess of Parma, the second wife of Napoleon Bonaparte, who changed the course of history.
A woman way ahead of her time.
Deborah Jay
Deborah is fascinated by the late 18th and first half of the 19th centuries which saw the American and French Revolutions which shook the world order, the rise of Napoleon Bonaparte and his impact, and the yearning for nationhood which led to Italian and German unification. If Napoleon had not married Marie-Louise, Napoleon might have become ruler of all Europe. But few know about her. Deborah’s first biography tells her extraordinary story.
“I often think of how things might have turned out differently if history’s victors had been losers.”
Biographer & Historical Non-Fiction Author
Deborah Jay
"A fascinating, intimate biography which has all the drama of a romantic novel."
Francesca Simon
Reviews of Napoleon's Other Wife
"Racily written, entertainingly narrated, amazingly detailed, impressively researched, Napoleon's Other Wife tells a story few people will know."
Piers Plowright
"A compelling debut historical biography that reads like a novel, with lively opening chapters. It restores Marie-Louise to her rightful place in history."
Rebecca Wallersteiner, The Lady
Saving or Appropriating the Elgin Marbles?
Elgin's Watercolourist - The Betrayal of Don Titta
Staying within her favourite historical period and her desire to resurrect those who have undeservedly fallen into oblivion, Deborah Jay is currently working on an historical non-fiction book, reconstructing the life of Giovanni Battista Lusieri. As the travelling painter who accompanied Lord Elgin to Constantinople (today Istanbul) following Lord Elgin’s appointment as English Ambassador to the Porte (the Ottoman Empire) in 1799, Lusieri is perhaps better known for his part in the removal of the Elgin Marbles.
Upcoming Books
In Conversation With Deborah Jay
​- Historical Talks,
Keynote And Public Speaking
Deborah has given talks at various public and private institutions in English, French and Italian on Marie-Louise, Napoleon Bonaparte, Emperor Francis (Marie-Louise's father), Klemens Metternich, the Austrian Chancellor, the Italian Risorgimento, the Parthenon and on other related contemporary issues. She is particularly interested in the role of women and infant abandonment in the 18th and 19th centuries.
For talks contact Marie Hamilton at rosaluxemburgpress@gmail.com and for film and tv rights, contact Susan Elkington at selkington1@hotmail.co.uk
