María José Rubio, a historian and writer with a PhD in History, publishes The Marchioness and Bonaparte, her new historical novel published by Editorial Planeta.
Specializing in the History of Spain and the Hispanic Monarchy, Rubio has developed an extensive career that combines rigorous research with popularization through biographies, essays, and historical novels. Her work includes notable titles dedicated to queens and female figures in Spanish history.
In The Marchioness and Bonaparte, the author revives the real-life figure of Mariana de Waldstein y Liechtenstein, Marchioness of Santa Cruz, an Austrian aristocrat who lived at the Spanish court during the reign of Charles IV. The narrative is primarily set in Madrid between late 1800 and 1801, a period of great geopolitical tension during which Napoleon, as First Consul, consolidates his power amid French interests pressuring Spain.
The novel intertwines an intense love story with the significant events of the time. Luciano Bonaparte, Napoleon’s brother and ambassador in Madrid, arrives with the mission to secure Spanish cooperation for France’s expansionist plans, particularly regarding Portugal. In this context, a relationship develops between Luciano and the Marchioness of Santa Cruz, a cultured, independent woman of strong character who chooses to «live without asking for permission.»
Rubio constructs a wide array of real historical characters. In addition to the protagonists, figures such as Manuel Godoy, Francisco de Goya (who appears working clandestinely on his Caprichos), the Count-Duchess of Benavente (Josefa Pimentel), Boccherini, and other personalities from the court and the Enlightened salons stand out. This network of characters illustrates the complex power relations, loyalties, and rivalries of the era.
One of the most carefully crafted aspects is the recreation of early 19th century Madrid: a bustling and contradictory city, still bearing traits of the Old Regime but already shaken by revolutionary winds. The novel also assigns a significant role to art, both as a symbol of power and through secret cabinets of paintings and the tension between French collecting and Spanish collections.
Through Mariana de Waldstein’s perspective—a woman navigating her aristocratic duty, her family, and her desire for personal freedom—the work explores themes such as women’s roles in a male-dominated world, the clash between the Old Regime and the new Napoleonic order, and how the private and public spheres intersect in times of change.
The Marchioness and Bonaparte is situated in the best tradition of historical novels, using solid documentation to bring to life characters and settings from one of the most pivotal periods in European history, on the eve of the War of Independence.
