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Feb 07, 2008

Amy rated it:

I would have never chosen this book on my own. My boss recommended it and I started reading slowly at first. This week I've stayed up every night until at least 2:00 a.m. reading it. It's not an easy read since it's in diary form (I find that more challenging for some reason) and some words are in French (names/locations and slang mostly). I took two years of French in high school but I don't recall much at all.

It's a historical fiction, of which I haven't read many. I loved it More...

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Feb 06, 2008

Kyla rated it:

This was a beautifully crafted book. Written in the voice of Josephine after nearly a decade of research by the author, it is intensely captivating and is one of my all time favorite books- along with the two that follow it in the trilogy. If you're a sucker for historical fiction it is an absolute MUST read.

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Sep 02, 2010

Chrissie rated it:

NO SPOILERS

I have thoroughly enjoyed this book, the first of Sandra Gulland's trilogy concerning Josephine Bonaparte. I have completed ALL three books of the trilogy. I think it is very important to read them as one book. For that reason I will write one review and let it stand for all three books. I think it is wrong to evaluate them differently. All three were marvelous. Why? Well because youu got under the skin of Josephine, who in fact was called Rose until Napolean decided to ch More...

12 comments like (1 person liked it)

Mar 02, 2009

Jennifer rated it:

Continuing on my historical fiction jag, I picked this up because it was recommended in the Complete Idiot's Guide to the Ultimate Reading List.

This was a quick read due to the diary form. And I was fascinated (and horrified) by the background of the Reign of Terror (which makes for good Wikipedia strings afterwards). I did not realize this was the first of a trilogy and was surprised that 3/4 of the way through the book we had not even met Napolean yet. I liked the book enough that More...

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Sep 11, 2011

Phyllis rated it:

Ah finally. A book that I could just sink my teeth into and enjoy wholeheartedly! This is the first book of a trilogy about Josephine B., as in Bonaparte. I knew absolutely nothing about her background, but only as a famous appendage of Napoleon, as in Romeo and Juliet. Although the book is fiction, it is heavily research with some footnotes. What I love is knowing that it's heavily based on fact, but that the research doesn't seep through into the story. Josephine, whose original name of Rose w More...

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Jul 22, 2009

Mary rated it:

For those fans of historical fiction, I think this is a great read. The book is based on the life of Josephine Bonaparte (known most of her life as Rose) But be forewarned, this is the first book in a trilogy (so yes, I am hooked and will now have to read the rest). The book is written in diary format - this probably would have stopped me from reading it, if a friend hadn't reassured me it was a great book. With it being written in diary and letter format from the perspective of Josephine, it ad More...

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Apr 03, 2009

Shannon rated it:

Told in the form of diary readings by and correspondence to Josephine (aka "Rose"), this first of three volumes discusses her early life, adolescence, first marriage, children, imprisonment, and reluctant relationship with Napoleon. During these years, Josephine was surrounded by revolution, intrigue, love, fear, and poverty.

The diary format worked well for me and there was enough narrative to keep it moving. I kind of felt like a voyeur peeking in on Rose's life. I was More...

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Dec 28, 2009

Suze rated it:

I *loved* this book! I was hooked from page one! Every now and then you pick up a book and read a few paragraphs and you just KNOW you're going to like it. That's how it was for me with this book.

I loved the style of writing, the flow of the story, and the characters. It's exceptionallly well researched as well, which is very important to me when reading a historical novel. Josephine Bonaparte became a friend, someone I cared about. As it's written in diary format, you know her deepe More...

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Dec 02, 2009

Laura rated it:

I thought this book was awesome! If you love "Les Mis" you will enjoy this percpective of the French Revolution. This is the story of the rise of Josephine Bonaparte. In this book she is called Rose and the story is told from her diary entries. It was a really compelling book for me. I was amazed at the tragedy that Rose had to endure from such an early age. She was in a loveless marriage to a husband who cheated numerous times and hence begat illigitimate children. Rose is thru More...

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Jan 08, 2012

Kate rated it:

This novel is written as if it was the secret diary of Rose de Beauharnias, the young woman who would become known to history as Empress Joséphine, wife of Napoleon. It begins when Rose was a young girl living with her family on the island of Martinique, and she is told a strange prophecy by a native fortune-teller: ‘You will be unhappily wed. You will be widowed. You will be Queen.’ The novel then follows Rose’s life as she moves to France, is married to a French nobleman who ends up being guil More...

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Oct 03, 2009

Christy rated it:

I became engrossed with this novel from the beginning. Once I entered Rose's world, I didn't want to leave it. Luckily, this book is a first of a trilogy about Marie Josèphe Rose Tascher de la Pagerie aka Josephine Bonaparte (she is known as Rose in this novel).

Gulland has created an exquisite story, where it's hard to remember that these aren't Rose's actual words. The story is written through journal entries, so we're basically reading the events of her life through 'her words'. Th More...

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May 14, 2011

Jean Marie rated it:

This was an incredibly compulsive read! The diary format makes it so easy to read. I just kept going "oh, one more section" and before I knew it had been an hour and I had read fifty pages.

I loved this book and I look forward to reading the following two in the trilogy. I loved the mythology around Rose (Josephine) in her native Martinico, her quick learning in France, and the drama of the Revolution and the Terror. Rose's voice was so compelling, so believable, she no lon More...

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Jul 26, 2010

Shane rated it:

Gulland certainly goes under the petticoats of this pivotal period in history, the French Revolution and the Napoleonic era, to provide a day by day commentary of events as they unfolded, narrated by the enigmatic but charismatic Rose, aka Josephine, as named by her second husband.

Born in Martinique off Creole heritage and married off to French aristocrat Alexandre de Beauharnais as a replacement to his original choice of her younger sister Catherine (who died suddenly and convenient More...

2 comments like (1 person liked it)

Apr 13, 2007

Megan rated it:

I already have read this book a few times, and therefore can guarantee it is a good read as long as you enjoy stories involved with history. Despite the debate about the accuracy of the series (two more follow this book) I can credit the book with being part of what threw me into my love for Napoleonic history, and the life of Josephine Bonaparte.

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Feb 03, 2012

Clementine rated it:

This book is not something I would have voluntarily picked up, but after professing my dislike of History courses focussing on the French Revolution, my housemate declared that I should at least give this series a go as they are her favourite books, and that maybe reading them will change my mind. She was right.
Not only is the book extremely well written, imparting contemporary facts with ease and without patronising the reader, but the diary format lends to an accessible way to understand More...

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Dec 01, 2011

Anne rated it:

I read most of this book over two days and am now really frustrated that I don't have the second volume of the series with me. The story is compelling and the characters feel very real. I had somewhat of a difficult time keeping track of all the names, but in the end, it didn't seem to matter. The high school French I had twenty years ago was more than enough for understandomg what little French there is in the novel. Why not five stars? The book is well-written, interesting, and compelling, but More...

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Apr 06, 2010

Usansay rated it:

The history teacher in me balances this book between three and five stars. It's great historical fiction, really bringing to life the time period leading up to the French Revolution, including on the slave-holding islands controlled by France. Then, for the pages and pages that recounted the Terror, I was truly terrified. The book is written in diary format, and I loved author's voice - poetic, bare, insightful, and funny. Josephine comes across as a remarkable person. However, this is only part More...

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May 24, 2009

Rebecca rated it:

I have been saving this book (which is for the June meeting of my bookclub) for my vacation, and it was well worth the wait. I must admit my prejudice—I love historical fiction, especially about actual women who lived in times of great turmoil and/or who held great influence. Josephine Bonaparte fits both these criteria. As this book is the first in a trilogy, Josephine does not meet and marry Napoleon until the last few pages of the novel. But Josephine’s early life when she was known as Ro More...

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Jan 05, 2010

Penelope rated it:

i don't read the backs of books cuz i love surprises ... so i didn't realize this was the first of three books. as i got closer and closer to the end and still rose hadn't even met napoleon, i started to think i was crazy. can't wait to read the other books because this one was super good. gulland's writing style is beautiful; the sentences flow easily but aren't the least bit simple.

on a personal note, i find it hysterical that napoleon renamed rose to something he liked better. More...

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Jun 25, 2011

Candy rated it:

I would never have picked this book out on my own. I shy away from historical stuff. This book was read because so many of my friends loved it. I have to say I loved it. I could barely put it down. I very much enjoyed the style of writing, as journal entries, rather than a novel. I also found out that the author researched this story for 10+ years before she wrote it. She was obviously extremely passionate about the images she wanted people to come away with, in regards to Josephine B. I am look More...

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Jul 09, 2011

Kate rated it:

I read and enjoyed Gulland's Mistress of the Sun last year. This one, the first of a trilogy about Josephine Bonaparte, was also a pleasure. Once in awhile I enjoy reading a novel that is not too demanding, a sort of light entertainment. Not that the themes of Josephine's life are light, by any means: the loss of family members in childhood; a loveless arranged first marriage; imprisonment, execution of her husband and barely escaping the guillotine herself, crippling debt, and single motherh More...

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Mar 21, 2011

Sharmila rated it:

I love historical fiction when the heroine is truly compelling and the pace is not too slow. This, the first in the trilogy, was exactly that. Quick paced, passionate, and compelling. I immediately loved Rose...and felt more and more inspired by her as the story went on. Some of the betrayal and pain she has to go through is really maddening because you really feel she deserves so much better. She makes choices I did not even think it was possible for women to make at that time....a real heroine More...

2 comments like (1 person liked it)

Mar 15, 2010

Cindy rated it:

I admit, I am not the most knowledgeable person about the French Revolution, so I can't comment about how accurate Gulland's account of the events was (though other reviews indicate that she is a meticulous researcher and she knows her facts!).

I will say that if you like historical fiction, as I do, you'll probably like this book. Gulland is able to paint a vivid picture, and it was easy for me to transport myself back to Rose's time. The only difficulty I had was the ability to fi More...

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Sep 21, 2009

Shelby rated it:

I like period books and historical fiction and this filled both of those. This is the first of 3 books telling about the life of Napolean's wife through her journal entries. I loved the first half of the book but then it got too much into French politics that were going on during the French Revolution and the author has too many characters that are hard to keep track of. I think she drops the names because it's all a part of history, but it just makes it a bit confusing. Admittedly, I skimmed so More...

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May 12, 2009

Sarah rated it:

I loved this book. I read it last year and am finally reading the sequal and anxiously anticipating the third and last book in the series. It's an in depth look at the life of Josephine Bonaparte. This first book starts when she is born in the Caribbean up until she meets Napoleon in France. In between she barely survived the French Revolution. It is historical fiction, and the author did much research including diaries and letters of Josephine's. And that is how the books are written, as More...

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Feb 13, 2009

Ilene rated it:

This is the first book in a three book series about Josephine Bonaparte's life. This book was interesting and so I will continue to read the series. This particular book follows Josephine's (Rose) life as a young girl all the way until she meets and marries Napoleon. It has been an informative book regarding the French Revolution although I admit all the French names mentioned (which I can't pronounce) sometimes leaves me a bit confused as to what exactly is happening politically. Josephine, More...

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May 03, 2011

Carolyn rated it:

This book came highly rated by a close friend of mine and I really hoped to "love" it. Sadly it just plain didn't work for me. I did love reading about the French Revolution and enjoyed much about the history and time period but was never really able to connect with the characters. Written in diary format, the book left too many "holes" and unanswered questions. It seemed choppy and left me hanging in too many places. I also didn’t care for the fact that much of the book cent More...

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Dec 17, 2010

Becky rated it:

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here

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Sep 07, 2010

Jen rated it:

OK... This isn't exactly high-brow literature, but it's not entirely the cheesy chick-lit it appears to be either. This three-book historical fiction series follows the life and times of Josephine Bonaparte through her "own" journal entries and letters received. While these are fictionalized entries, footnotes accompany some of the pages offering more historical details or clarification on other characters brought into the story. Read in just three days, this is quick to breeze through More...

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May 18, 2011

Ingrid rated it:

I enjoyed the beginning of this book very much, but got lost in the second half. This is the first of three books about the life of Rose Bonaparte. This book details her life up to the point that she marries Napolean. Rose led an interesting life in an extraordinary time. You get a really good sense of how terrifying the French Revolution was. Never knowing if the authorities would come arrest you in the middle of the night or if you would then be executed. The second half of the book seems to d More...

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