"Napoleon was but a poor, insignificant army officer. Josephine was a widow. They met in the Paris of 1795, a city ravaged by revolution and despairing of war. They fell in love and married. Their relationship became a legend." "From the early days of their love when Napoleon was in Italy, to the bitter divorce in 1809, the couple kept in touch through intimate letters. Napoleon's insatiable ambition took him from Italy to Egypt, from general to emperor. But his opinions, his thoughts, his actions, he relayed in writing to Josephine." "This collection of letters reveals much about the times through which Napoleon and Josephine prospered and about the forces which played upon a couple who rose at astonishing speed to the very height of power and success. This edition includes detailed commentaries on the letters, a chronology and biographies of key personalities."--Jacket.