The second in the series about Josephine Bonaparte. I think I didn't get as much out of it as the first book because I don't know the political history enough. Still, well-written and kept me up many nights past my bedtime. ( )

One of those books you'd never pick on your own but enjoy based on a friend's suggesiton. I enjoyed the history behind it. ( )

This was a very enjoyable read telling the tale of Josephine's life up until the time she married Bonaparte. Very much written as a personal account through her journal. Very interesting approach which seemed to work well. It's quite a quick read but despite this gives you the feel of her early life and a real feel for much of the French Revolution and the extent of 'The Terror' that followed it, even for those who had worked towards the Revolution throughout! Look forward to reading the others in the trilogy. 4.5 stars. ( )

The first of a trilogy about the fascinating life of Josephine Bonaparte, first wife of Napoleon. Sandra Gulland has written a fast paced novel in diary form about a woman who has been consigned to history as a historical footnote based on her relationship with Napoleon Bonaparte. Who knew she led such a turbulent and interesting life before she ever met Napoleon! I could not put this book down and quickly devoured the two sequels. This is an intelligent, well researched and highly entertaining account of a turbulent period in history. Sandra Gulland's trilogy has inspired me to delve deeper into the life of Josephine and the entire period of revolutionary France. I highly recommend these novels.

The Many Lives and Secret Sorrows of Josephine B is the first of three volumes about Josephine Bonaparte. Told in the form of diary readings and correspondence to young Marie Josèphe Rose Tascher de La Pagerie (later Josephine) the first volume reveals her early life, adolescence, first marriage, children, imprisonment, and introductory relationship to Napoleon. During these years, Rose is surrounded by revolution, intrigue, poverty and fear. We meet numerous characters through Rose's diary, many of them both familiar and famous. We read about her unhappy marriage to the philandering Alexander de Beauharnais and about the births of her children, Eugene and Hortense. A pragmatist who became a politician's mistress, she later marries the young Bonaparte to gain security and respectability. The reader will also learn more about the influence that women have in political and historical events.

I'm not a fan of the diary narration format usually, but this was a fast read and I felt like a fly on the wall of Josephine's life and that tumultuous time of history when a young girl from the Colonies will eventually become Empress of France.

The first volume covers Rose's life up to the point she marries Napoleon and it's an absolute page turner. I found it completely engrossing and look forward to reading Volume 2 - Tales of Passion, Tales of Woe, and Volume 3, The Last Great Dance on Earth.
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