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151st out of 3,151 books
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13,818 voters
The Josephine Bonaparte Collection: The Many Lives and Secret Sorrows of Josephine B., Tales of Passion, Tales of Woe, and the Last Great Dance on Earth
by
Sandra Gulland (Goodreads Author)
Just in time for the holidays, here are Sandra Gulland's three gripping, historical novels based on the epic life of Josephine Bonaparte in one gorgeous package. All are works of historical fiction on a grand scale that recount a stirring, unforgettable love story.The Many Lives & Secret Sorrows of Josephine B. traces Josephine's early years as she leaves the exotic, l...more
Boxed Set, 1216 pages
Published
October 22nd 2002
by Touchstone Books
(first published January 1st 2002)
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Jan 20, 2009
Tara DePompei
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Everyone
Recommended to Tara by:
Laurie Stein
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 am Sunday night.
I have now finished all three! Amazing. I was bawling at the end at 2 am Sunday night.
4 likes · like · see review
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The Josephine B. Trilogy comprises three acclaimed, bestselling novels that draw the reader into the delicate yet passionate relationship between Josephine and Napoleon Bonaparte: The Many Lives & Secret Sorrows of Josephine B.; Tales of Passion, Tales of Woe; and The Last Great Dance on Earth. Together they form an irresistible epic, tracing Josephine’ s transformation from impressionable young girl to canny and compassionate wife, to confidante empress and one of the most sophisticated and...more
Aug 30, 2008
Katie
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
anyone who likes historical novels
Recommended to Katie by:
Patty W.
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 fasci...more
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 fasci...more
History was never my strongest subject. I've never been good at remembering names & dates, and it all seemed so dull to me, I couldn't find the meaning of what I was learning. I think, now, that the problem was not so much that I couldn't remember, but it didn't hold interest for me because it wasn't personal. Josephine B takes care of that (kinda). It does (as the author acknowledges) leave out certain 'characters' and events, in order to simplify the narrative - so it can be contained with...more
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 life...more
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 whole st...more
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 whole st...more
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 happen th...more
If you like historical anything: romance, mystery, literature; READ THESE BOOKS. Even if you don't; read Sandra Gulland's Josephine Bonaparte Collection anyway.
As a history buff I am a fan and a critic at the same time. Always drawn to historical context, yet I am skeptical of inaccurate details that tend to pull me out of the story.
OMG. I was so immersed in the life of Josephine that years after reading this trilogy I still think on it as fact. Not fiction. Granted, the diary style took me a...more
As a history buff I am a fan and a critic at the same time. Always drawn to historical context, yet I am skeptical of inaccurate details that tend to pull me out of the story.
OMG. I was so immersed in the life of Josephine that years after reading this trilogy I still think on it as fact. Not fiction. Granted, the diary style took me a...more
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 stars of light.”
Conversation between Ca...more
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 stars of light.”
Conversation between Ca...more
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.
You will really love this series if you like historical fiction.
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!
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!
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 like · like · see review
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.
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 she met...more
Sep 11, 2008
Amy
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Ginger, Heather, Capri, Ivy
Recommended to Amy by:
Angie
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 like · like · see review
Apr 15, 2008
Judy
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
anyone who likes historical fiction
Recommended to Judy by:
Laura Freeman
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.
1 like · like · see review
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 Kool Aid in print, I wrote...more
Unfortunately, I also read "The Worst Hard Time" at her suggestion, as well. When I finished THAT Jim Jones Kool Aid in print, I wrote...more
I read these books as a whole set published in one great big book. It took a long time to read but I enjoyed it thoroughly and was actually quite disappointed when it ended...I wanted it to go on and on. Josphine Bonaparte was an incredibly fascinating woman who led an incredibly fascinating life.
This book made me want to learn even more about her and Napolean. They seemed to live one of those wonderfully great love stories that is amazing and tragic all at once. I guess that's how it is with su...more
This book made me want to learn even more about her and Napolean. They seemed to live one of those wonderfully great love stories that is amazing and tragic all at once. I guess that's how it is with su...more
It was very interesting to see actual letters written from Napoleon to Josephine. It was very good.
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
I love this trilogy. This was my second time reading it and I loved it every bit as the first. Gulland portrays Josephine as such a wonderfully intelligent, kind, devoted, self-aware, self-preserving and loving person. She grows from a young girl into a worldy woman who seems to know the appropriate way to act in any situation. She is an inspirational mother and role model to the young women around her. She is absolutely fasinating, both before and after she meets Napoleon. The trilogy is long,...more
If you haven't read this series yet, make it a priority!!! This was one of the best things I've ever read! It was the touching story of Josephine Bonaparte, Napoleon's first wife and only true love.
The character of Josephine is so painfully likeable, tough and strong, yet sensitive and loving. What an amazing woman and told through the unique perspective of first person as written in Josephine's diary. I had the fortune to meet the author and she spent a decade of her life doing research alone...more
The character of Josephine is so painfully likeable, tough and strong, yet sensitive and loving. What an amazing woman and told through the unique perspective of first person as written in Josephine's diary. I had the fortune to meet the author and she spent a decade of her life doing research alone...more
Such great historical fiction! I absolutely sped through this entire series.
Tales of Passion, Tales of Woe is the second book of the acclaimed Josephine B. Trilogy. This story begins the year of 1796 in Paris, France just after Josephine's marriage to Napoleon. Written in confessional diary format in the voice of Josephine, it is one of the greatest love stories of all time. This sequel book takes the reader into the heart and head of Josephine as she adjusts to being wed to the obsessively passionate and always willful military leader: Napoleon. We visit the ballrooms...more
One of the best books I have ever read!!!
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 research...more
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 hold attenti...more
Move over, Philippa Gregory. Gulland can hold attenti...more
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
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 created just the r...more
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 created just the r...more
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 Josephine when she marries...more
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 Josephine when she marries...more
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I'm the author of the Josephine B. Trilogy, the internationally best-selling novels based on the life of Josephine Bonaparte, Napoleon's wife. The Trilogy is now published in 17 countries.
I most recently published MISTRESS OF THE SUN, the first of what will be a series of novels set in the Court of Louis XIV, the Sun King. (I'm writing a second now.)
An American-Canadian, I was born in Miami, Flor...more
More about Sandra Gulland...
I most recently published MISTRESS OF THE SUN, the first of what will be a series of novels set in the Court of Louis XIV, the Sun King. (I'm writing a second now.)
An American-Canadian, I was born in Miami, Flor...more
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