Status Updates From Ambition and Desire: The Da...

Geweeeldig!!!

Hey, Bookworms -- this biography is very good. Reads like a novel.

I got bored as soon as Napoleon appeared.

I think the Creole part is possibly true, and maybe the fact that she wasn't all that welcome. I think beforehand, at least before Josephine started conducting affairs, it was more equalhanded, and the details of Napoleon's early life too, and also spending two pages speculating on why Napoleon did the things he did, or even why that was the case,while reducing his law code to just a sentence is ridiculous.

Too sensational, some of them make me go back. I was able to kind of even find some that disproved the Napoleon law code, that basically reduced them all to literal children, which was only really applicable for that. He may have been jeaous, but her portrayal of Napoleon is wildly inconsistent to say the least. Josephine, is better, but man, the whitewashing is kind of nauseating.

This is a fantastic read if you are a history buff

Oh goodness me, I really need to stop starting new books before I finish the others.

Very interesting so far. I knew a little about Josephine, but am now realizing just how little. Flawed and often foolish, but fascinating. Had to return copy to library, but our a new hold on it to be able to finish.

Really tried to finish. Written like a disjointed term paper. Fascinating historical figures, but the writing is making it hard to want to read.

This is extremely interesting, well written and engaging

Beyond fascinating!!

Reading this biography alongside of a Napoleon biography and a Marie-Louise biography. What a fascinating way to immerse oneself in the world of Napoleon!

'In one year alone, she bought 900 gowns, almost 5 times as many as Marie Antoinette.

'Unknowingly, Marie-Josèphe was covering herself with toxins, for the best rouge was made from vermilion, ground from cinnabar (mercury sulfide) or from ceruse, which was produced by dousing lead plates in vinegar.'

Continued strains between Napoleon and Josephine forced them to wonder if they were meant to be together. As Williams lays out the odd decisions being made, Napoleon turned to his step-daughter to bring him an heir, as Josephine was never able to do so. This soap opera continued and Napoleon seemingly got his heir, before being crowned Emperor of France and beginning his historic reign.

WIlliams offers up an interesting look into the woman who stood by Napoleon through his most famous period. Born on Martinique, the woman who would become Josephine was anything but am Empress-in- waiting, but did have a taste for riches. She married a brutal man and had a family, which she brought with her into a union with General Bonaparte, though he soon turned fickle, especially when she became unfaithful.

Kind of trashy, not sure I'm going to finish

I have really struggled getting through this book! I am disgusted by the lifestyle and personal side of these individuals but fascinated by the history... I have skipped around a lot!

2 december 1804 was de koudste dag van het jaar. Sneeuwbuien werden gevolgd door striemende regen; desondanks vulden de straten op de route naar de Notre-Dame zich met mensen. In de Tuilerieën stond alles in het teken van de aanstaande ceremonie. Kappers hadden het zo druk dat veel hofdames de vorige avond al waren gecoiffeerd en rechtop zittend hadden moeten slapen om hun haar in model te houden.

When Someone thinks they're incredible and fascinating but really they're abusive and a murderer.

I am enjoying the reading of this book !!!!

I am enjoying the reading of this book !!!!

I am enjoying the reading of this book !!!!

I am enjoying the reading of this book !!!!

Can't put it down!

I enjoyed reading about the life of Josephine Bonapart. I never paid attention to this part of history before. My eyes were opened to how some had lived their lives. Amazing!!!

At times contradictory, wishy-washy.

enjoying this more than I expected to