Marie Walewska : Napoleon's great love, Christine Sutherland

Napoleon was thirty-seven years old when, in January 1807 in Warsaw, he met and fell in love with the beautiful Countess Marie Walewska. She was barely twenty, inexperienced in life and love, and married to a Polish aristocrat fifty years her senior. Napoleon, the triumphant conqueror of Europe, was the very epitome of romance, who was going to restore Poland's independence at one stroke. The Polish people and aristocracy greeted him with pomp and ceremony, culminating in a reception at the royal palace. As Napoleon entered the main drawing room, lit by hundreds of candles in splendid Venetian chandeliers and lined with the most beautiful women of the kingdom, he had eyes for Marie alone and pursued her with all the ardour and determination that propelled his destiny. At first terrified, Marie sacrificed herself for her country and then fell in love.

The romance blossomed in the snowy vastness of East Prussia, where Napoleon had his headquarters, and reached its height two and a half years later in Vienna, when Marie told Napoleon that she was carrying his child. Napoleon had serious doubts about his virility, and the knowledge that he could father a child had far-reaching consequences for France and Europe. In order to found a dynasty he divorced Josephine, abandoned Marie and married the Archduchess Marie Louise of Austria. This marriage cost him support at home, upset his system of alliances, precipitated war with Russia and caused his own downfall. Count Walewski gave his name to Marie's child, who had a brilliant career under Napoleon III as Ambassador in London and then French Foreign Minister. Marie visited Napoleon when he was exiled to Elba, and remained at his side until his departure for St Helena.

Christine Sutherland takes a small segment of history, meticulously and sensitively recreates time and place, and brings life and passion to a great romance. Her tribute to this devoted and beautiful woman can justly be compared to Garbo's recreation of Marie Walewska in the immortal film Conquest, with Charles Boyer as Napoleon.