I am happy to see that slowly different women from history are being drawn into the spotlight. Empress Elisabeth “Sisi” of Austria has been the pop culture favourite for the last few years, and I would not be surprised to see Empress Eugenie of France become the next. This fascinating aristocrat went on to change the fashion industry as we know it, and her legacy is truly understated. I’m thrilled that we finally have a full-length, English language biography, an dit is a must-read. Read on for my thoughts on The Last Empress of Franceby Petie Kladstrup and Evelyne Resnick!
Thank you to HarperCollins and NetGalley for providing an Advanced Listening Copy and an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
The Last Empress of France: The Rebellious Life of Eugénie de Montijo, Petie Kladstrup, Evelyne Resnick
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.
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.
This first definitive American biography of Eugénie restores her far-reaching legacy to history.
Why You Should Read This…
I read a lot of biographies, and a lot of royal biographies, and this is one of my favourites of the last few years! Eugenie is an interesting historical figure and we have seen more interest in her over the last few years. (She is my guess for one of the next big period drama fixations, and I would not have an issue with that.) She has been included in some joint biographies but I am incredibly happy that we’ve got a full length solo biography now.
While biographies can often be bland and boring, this is the opposite. Kladstrup and Resnick are not merely recounting births, deaths, and other notable dates but instead have brought Eugenie and those around her to life. Eugenie was a strong personality in many ways, and that absolutely shines through in The Last Empress of France. And we also get a good feeling for the people around her, as they played a significant role in who she was. (Wait until you “meet” Plon Plon… How she put up with him I will never know.) I very much appreciate that we get these three-dimensional stories, rather than the common, flat recountings we often get.
I also loved that Kladstrup and Resnick really dug into what Eugenie accomplished throughout her life. To this day, many people write off the importance of fashion and the fashion industry, but they made a point to explain just how many people were employed by the industry that was boosted by her support and interest. And we not only dug into her influence on haute couture, but the other causes that she put considerable time and energy into, including women’s rights.
All in all, I think it’s in the top books of 2025 for me. And Jilly Bond’s narration in the audiobook helped bring Eugenie further to life. (Bonus points for her pronunciations of names!)
Is The Last Empress of France on your to-read list?
Cheers,
The Historian
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