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Jan 20, 2009

Tara rated it:

I have finished the first one and have to say that it is one of those rare books where you wonder why your children cannot make their own dinner . . . after all, you need to get back to your book! ;-) Seriously, it was a truly wonderful read. (Thank you, Laurie!) I am on page 200 of the second book now and am also enjoying it. I am not as spellbound as with the first, but it is with me wherever I go . . .

I have now finished all three! Amazing. I was bawling at the end at 2 More...

2 comments like (4 people liked it)

Aug 30, 2008

Katie rated it:

These three books are sooooooo good. They are written in the form of a diary - Josephine Bonaparts diary and so you get a very intimate look into the lives of Jesephine, Napoleon, and their surrounding friends and family.
They begin with Josephine as a young girl on the Island of Martinico and take the reader all the way through the Reign of Terror, Napoleons rise to power, his exile, and eventually the death of Josephine. There are tons of fascinating characters and all the stories are so More...

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Nov 06, 2011

Sharon rated it:

I was surprised to find this book so enjoyable when the format is that of diary entries. In this unique way, the story of one of the most famous wives in history is entertainingly told. Napoleon Bonaparte's 'Josephine' is the famous woman whose life we learn about through meticulous research by Sandra Gulland into the lives of men and women behind the French Revolution of 1792. The book begins on the Island of Martinique where 'Rose' begins telling her story. Interestingly, early on in her l More...

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Oct 11, 2011

Julia rated it:

This trilogy is absolutely amazing! It is written in a very personal diary-style and therefore we see everything through Josephines point of view. It's a true story (though Sandra Gulland definetly changed a few things or maybe 'interpreted' them in her way), and I really love reading books about true happenings.
Josephine lived a very adventurous life; she went through great and terrible fases but she always maintained optimistic and strong. And that tone is very dominant throughout the wh More...

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Jul 29, 2011

Mirah rated it:

Book 1- Really fascinating. The format made the reading go quickly...combining diary entries and letters received by Rose (Josephine). Interesting portrayal of Rose's experiences during the French Revolution and the people involved. I thought it was very educational but done in a way that didn't make it seem like I was reading a history book. Rose's life before, during, and after the Revolution truly was fascinating. I kept wondering when Bonaparte would enter the picture and it didn't hap More...

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Aug 16, 2011

Mortalform rated it:

Suggested pairings: Marie Antoinette by Antonia Fraser; Désirée by Annemarie Selinko (biography of Désirée, Queen of Sweden, daughter of Bonaparte’s eldest brother Joseph’s wife’s first marriage)

Quotes and points of interest

Tallin to Rose p. 382
“You are perhaps the only person who overlooks my more visible weaknesses in favor of my more hidden strengths. ”

Ossian quoted by Napoleon to Josephine p 464
“Her breasts were like foam on the wave, her eyes like More...

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Jun 22, 2007

Christie rated it:

This is a 3 book series that you will love. It really gives a sweeping portrayl of Josephine's life and a time in history when things were different. These books carry you from her childhood, through turmoil with her first husband, and then into her falling for Napoleon and all that happens.

You will really love this series if you like historical fiction.

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Aug 28, 2008

Laura rated it:

Just finished the first book, and I really enjoyed it. I wanted to wait until I finish the series to write my review, but so far, very enjoyable.

Update: Finished the second book in the series. Josephine/Rose is a very charismatic character, and I like the letters/diary format.

New Update: I finished the third book. A wonderful series!

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Jul 24, 2008

Lexie rated it:

It took some time to get into the first book, but through most of the first and the second and third, I was very emotionally connected to the characters and the story. I enjoyed learning about Napolean and all that went on in his day. I was mad at him one day and pleased with him the next. I would definitely recomend these ones.

1 comment like (1 person liked it)

Jan 02, 2008

David rated it:

Few times have I read a trilogy where all three books were equally good. I could not put them down. You will be shocked how much you don't know about the French Revolution and the Bonaparte's. What an eye opener. I bought this hard to find and out of print collection online and gave it to my mother for Christmas.

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Feb 11, 2009

Lise added it

A fascinating read, although not completely historically accurate. As a teen in Matrinique, Josephine was told by an obeah woman that she would be a queen. She moves to Paris to marry a cousin. The marriage is unhappy, but the couple is swept up in the barbarism of the French Revolution. It was a terrifying time to be an aristocrat in Paris; both Josephine and her husband were imprisoned. Widowed and impoverished, Josephine uses her important political connections to survive. This is how s More...

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Sep 11, 2008

Amy rated it:

These are my favorite books of all time. I learned so much about the French revolution. Also I just love Josephine. I also loved the way the books explained so much about the 1800's. It was even interesting to read about the plays that they would go to. I really wish that some more of my sisters would read them!

1 comment like (1 person liked it)

Apr 15, 2008

Judy rated it:

The historical novel captivated my imagination....in spite of the number of pages, the book was a relatively quick read. Insightful, historical and credible, I really enjoyed reviewing my French historical knowledge. I want to visit Mal Maison...Josephine's country property outside France.

2 comments like (1 person liked it)

Sep 17, 2009

Terry rated it:

I read these [3 volumes:] at the suggestion of a woman I love....who, I believe, will one day abandon her husband and two children to run away with me....I keep reading her recommendations with this belief. These were, how you say, 'entertaining' and I learned much about the life and times of Josephine Bonaparte....[as opposed to the NOTHING I knew previously!:]

Unfortunately, I also read "The Worst Hard Time" at her suggestion, as well. When I finished THAT Jim Jones Ko More...

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Jan 31, 2009

Jenn rated it:

This was such a good series! I'm a huge history buff and I especially love stories based on, in or around the French Revolution and English Monarchy. This series chronicles the life of Josephine Bonaparte before her rise as the 1st Empress of France through her married and rise to fame as Napoleon's famous wife. Gulland writes it through Josephine's diary entries which makes for a fast and relatable read. I really enjoyed these books and reccomend them to anyone who is interested in this period More...

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Sep 12, 2007

Liz rated it:

Such great historical fiction! I absolutely sped through this entire series.

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Nov 13, 2010

Christine rated it:

This trilogy of the life of Josephine Bonaparte, begins when Josephine (then known by her given name - Rose) is a teenager in Martinique. The series follows Josephine as she marries Alexandre Beauharnais in France, survives the French Revolution, and meets and marries Napoleon Bonaparte. Sandra Gulland, through her passion for the subject, is able to invest Josephine's narration with such life that it is easy to believe these books really were Josephine's journal entries. The meticulous resea More...

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Feb 17, 2009

Wendy rated it:

Earlier I was reviewing these one by one, but really they come into their own when one reads them all. Interesting subject, really nice human touches, lovely acerbic and sweet bits to the writing, portraying the characters through little comments or actions rather than being overly obvious. A really pleasant read. Whetted my appetite for more information on this couple. I didn't know they were famous for being in love, or for divorcing et al.

Move over, Philippa Gregory. Gulland can More...

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Mar 08, 2009

Melissa rated it:

I read all three books of this series during my vacation. It was a wonderful escape into the life of a person I was largely unfamiliar with. Her life was so varied and would have been unbelievable as fiction if we didn't know that it is based on fact. Sandra Gulland wove this tale beautifully, drawing me into this character's world until I was desperately needing to know what happened next, dreaming about these people and their relationships, and staying up way past my bedtime. For me, that is m More...

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Oct 10, 2009

Michelle rated it:

I was very fascinated by this work, an interesting mix of fact and fiction. Sandra Gulland has made me a Josephine B. fan and now I have added her recommended reading to my TBR list.

I felt a little overwhelmed by the size of the book; what if it was boring? Well, it was anything but boring, from the beginning, the author draws you in gently and hooks you by the brain. I had to take this eveywhere with me just in case I had an opportunity to squeeze in a page or paragraph. She cr More...

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Oct 24, 2008

Lauren rated it:

These are 3 of my favorite books of all time. I have always been a reader, even as a little one, but after reading the first Josephine B. book about 6 years ago, I found a whole new love for reading and a brand new love for historical fiction.

We all know Josephine Bonaparte as Napoleon Bonaparte's wife but never could I have guessed that her life was more interesting then her crazy husband's.

The journey begins in Martinque where Rose Tascher (she changes her name to More...

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Sep 09, 2008

Michelle rated it:

What can I say about this collection. Utterly addictive.
This book still haunts me- but in a good way. I just finished it a couple days ago and I'm hungry for more. I think about Josephine Bonaparte all time. I just loved being a part of her world!

First off Sandra Gulland is a polite, accurate and graceful writer. The three books connected perfectly and I really formed a strong connection with every character. After I read this I went on to find another Josephine book that migh More...

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Jun 20, 2007

Kim rated it:

i read this series for the first time when i was staying in london and i nearly made a trip to paris simply to visit malmaison.

i had no real knowledge of josephine prior to reading this series and precious little understanding of the french revolution. these books are loaded with history, but not to the point one feels 'lectured to'. written in the style of journals, they give the reader insight into the author's interpretation of josephine's personal development from childhood thro More...

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Sep 04, 2007

Jeannine rated it:

I doubt that this is necessarily an historically accurate picture of Josephine's life, but it is most certainly an entertaining one. And there are some things that can be learned from the book.

The books are written in the fashion of Josephine's own diary entries, from her life as a teenager in Martinique, before she comes to Paris to marry, to the end of her marriage with Napoleon, including the time she spent in prison during the days of the Terror. The style cuts straight to th More...

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May 08, 2009

Luisa rated it:

I have never read a book about Josephine or the Napoleonic empire so I didn't know what to expect. I have to say I was very impressed with the simple, straight forward style of Sandra Gulland. I loved the fact that the book is written from the perspective of the heroine, and eventhough in some instances the feelings seems a little far fecthed, I truly enjoyed the novel and I would recommend it to everyone who likes historical fiction.

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Jun 26, 2009

Holly rated it:

I just finished the first book in this historical fiction trilogy, The Many Lives and Secret Sorrow of Josephine B, and throughly enjoyed it. I realized I knew less than a pinky nail about the French Revolution. Pity. 3 stars.

Josephine led quite a life before marrying "that stange little man" Napoleon. She was known as Rose for most of her life, Napoleon called her Josephine. Her story is told through engaging diary entries.

I'm starting the second one now which More...

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Apr 06, 2010

Jan rated it:

Having enjoyed the trilogy and recommended it to both friends and library patrons, I was quite amenable to the suggestion that we 'do it' for our fledgling, informal book club.
I enjoyed it again and certainly picked up on facts and details that I had forgotten. I reread the first book in time for the book club meeting but may save the next chapters in her story for a summer read.

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Sep 09, 2009

Sally rated it:

I just spent the last two weeks in Utau. I spent alot of time reading. This triology on Josephine Bonaparte is excellant. I think I read all three in less than a week. This is an amazing woman who raised amazing children. I half to admit I was sobbing in the end of the last book. I recommend them to all. Laura hurry and get these so you can have them read by our girls trip.

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Jun 11, 2011

Stephanie rated it:

Judging by the cover art (I am bad about doing that), I was worried it would be too dry or too stuffy, but since it was loaned to me by a friend whose reading judgement I trust, I jumped in and was sucked into the story immediately. I read the triology back to back within a week and enjoyed every minute of it.

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Jul 02, 2008

Maribeth rated it:

This was an excellent series. It brought the personality of Josephine to life for me. This was someone who used her position, even though it was quite limited, to help those who were less fortunate than she. This was told in the form of Josephine's diary, and you felt as though you were experiencing her life with her. Gulland was very careful with historical detail. She helped to show how Napoleon's endless thirst for glory was poison to him and to those around him, especially to Josephine. More...

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