The Last Empress of France - by Petie Kladstrup & Evelyne Resnick (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

The dramatic, untold story of Eugénie de Montijo, the woman who created haute couture, fought for women's rights, opened France's schools to girls and ruled the country as its last empress, yet today remains almost unknown.

Although a nineteenth-century woman, her almost twenty-first century outlook was key to the creation of modern France. Viewed frequently as a mere "ornament of the throne" of her husband, Emperor Napoléon III, this Spanish-born aristocrat proved to be almost as fiery as her red hair, fighting against institutional limitations, establishing innovations in childcare and women's health, scientific research and education, battling anti-Semitism and "sex prejudice," all the while displaying a political acumen so sharp that her husband gave her sole control of the government during his absences and consulted her daily when he was home. But the triumphs and glamour of her life were coupled with heartbreak and tragedy.

This first definitive American biography of Eugénie restores her far-reaching legacy to history.

Review Quotes

Praise for books by Evelyne Resnick and Petie Kladstrup

"A high-spirited romp through the world of French champagne and antebellum America, chronicling the exploits of wine-merchant sensation Charles 'Champagne Charlie' Heidsieck. Don and Petie Kladstrup are storytellers with a keen eye for a good yarn and with an even keener appreciation of the rich history of the world's favorite beverage."--Tilar J. Mazzeo, author of The Widow Clicquot on Champagne Charlie


"Like an effervescent de Tocqueville, Heidsieck himself was a keen observer of all things American. Champagne Charlie is U.S. history paired with a primer on champagne. We learn that George Washington employed a wine advisor, that America was once lousy with counterfeit champagne, and that, for a while, cotton was an acceptable currency for purchasing bubbly. Deeply researched, elegantly written, Champagne Charlie goes down as smooth as a glass of Heidsieck's finest. Here is a book worth savoring--and celebrating."--Eric Weiner, bestselling author of The Geography of Bliss

"A great yarn, as gripping as a good adventure story." -Wall Street Journal on Wine and War


"Assured, detailed, highly readable . . . does honor to all those who labored to keep French wines from barbarous hands. An engrossing addition to the popular literature of WWII." -Kirkus Reviews on Wine and War


"[A] gem for wine aficionados and history buffs." -Boston Herald on Wine and War


"As exciting and interesting and pleasurable as wine itself." -Robert Mondavi, Chairman Emeritus, The Robert Mondavi Winery on Wine and War

"Compelling... a lovingly written ode to this incomparable, festive wine." -- New York Newsday on Champagne

"Don and Petie Kladstrup offer not only a fascinating portrait of the 19th-century founder of the Charles Heidsieck Champagne house but an evocative sketch of America and the wine business around the time of the Civil War."--New York Times on Champagne Charlie


"A fascinating portrait of an audacious French wine merchant during his travels around mid-19th-century America."--Moira Hodgson, Wall Street Journal on Champagne Charlie


"Champagne Charlie is the dimensional, captivating biography narrative of a man who lived his life with vision and conviction--and who brought champagne to the US."--Amy O'Loughlin, Foreword Reviews

"Champagne Charlie is a fascinating, fast-moving narrative of Heidsieck's remarkable story and the tumultuous times in which he lived."--Lesley J. Gordon, historian and Charles G. Summersell Chair of Southern History at the University of Alabama on Champagne Charlie


"From raging success to humiliating scandal, from creating international thirst to losing all in the jaws of a harrowing Civil War, Champagne Charlie is a true original--and with effervescent prose and connoisseurs' savvy, our guides don't miss a moment. As much a history of the maturation of American taste as of self-promoting European sophistication, this entertaining story will have you gently popping a cork in no time! Cheers!"--Joseph Spellman, named world's best sommelier in French Wine and Spirits competition, 1997 on Champagne Charlie

"The Kladstrups weave a wonderful narrative, rich in history both well-known and obscure."--Eric Annino on Champagne Charlie

"Evelyne Resnick combines her broad-based experience living fully immersed in both French and American society to develop a unique perspective when viewing our wine culture. This is a book that will provide food for thought for anyone looking to develop a brand." --Jeff Morgan, author of Rosé, A Guide to the World's Most Versatile Wine on Wine Brands

"Whether you consider her a marketing expert with a passion for wine, or a wine expert with a vast knowledge of marketing, Evelyne Resnick is always worth listening to." --Mark Tungate, journalist and author of Adland: A History of Advertising on Wine Brands