Princess Fuzzypants here: Napoleon has always been a fascinating character. His impact on the world was immense. But who was to know how many of his relatives led almost equally interesting lives, some of whom had some very profound effects on the world and particularly on the relationship between France and England. That relationship had been testy at best for so many centuries, erupting into warfare frequently. They were mortal enemies.

But it appears many of his siblings, children and others had close contact with Britain. Some of them made their homes there. Some were greeted with less than open arms whilst others were embraced. In fact it can be argued that the relationships forged by his family created the alliances that held up in both World Wars and beyond. Some of the tales were particularly engrossing.

But the reader could be forgiven if he or she requires a scorecard to keep up with the liaisons, affairs and parentage of many of the characters. To say that there was much intermingling would be an understatement. It would have been a full time job just trying to figure out who slept with whom and who was the father of which child. It makes for compelling and lusty reading. They certainly did not lack energy.

It is one of those books which you could read from beginning to end or dip into piecemeal. Either way it is an engaging read. Four purrs and two paws up.

The British Bonapartes was an interesting read that looked at the extended family of Napoleon Bonaparte, with particular reference to their connections to England. It was a well-arranged study that dealt with each branch of the family in turn. Some of the stories I already knew, but a number were new to me, so it was fascinating to read about how the rest of the family fared after Napoleon's defeat and death. This is therefore a worthwhile read for those interested in Napoleon, in 19th century European history, and/or in the way a famous family continues on after the loss of its key figure. It gets a solid four stars from me.