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The Many Lives & Secret Sorrows of Josephine B. (Josephine B., Bk 1)
The Many Lives Secret Sorrows of Josephine B - Josephine B., Bk 1
Author: Sandra Gulland
In this first of three books inspired by the life of Josephine Bonaparte, Sandra Gulland has created a novel of immense and magical proportions. We meet Josephine in the exotic and lush Martinique, where an old island woman predicts that one day she will be queen. The journey from the remote village of her birth to the height of European eleganc...  more »
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ISBN-13: 9780684856063
ISBN-10: 0684856069
Publication Date: 8/3/1999
Pages: 448
Rating:
  • Currently 4.1/5 Stars.
 138

4.1 stars, based on 138 ratings
Publisher: Touchstone
Book Type: Paperback
Other Versions: Hardcover
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

taaza avatar reviewed The Many Lives & Secret Sorrows of Josephine B. (Josephine B., Bk 1) on + 56 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 9
Fascinating glimpse into how Josephine Bonaparte came to be...this first book of the trilogy by Sandra Gulland traces her girlhood days in Martinique (which was my favorite part of the book, full of exotic intrique) to her arranged first marriage in France. At the end of the book, she finally meets Bonaparte. I have started the 2nd book, which so far, is not nearly as enjoyable as this.
reviewed The Many Lives & Secret Sorrows of Josephine B. (Josephine B., Bk 1) on + 121 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 8
I found this book while taking a cruise in 2005. It was in the library swap section, so I started it then and there and took it home with me. I had never read anything on Josephine Bonaparte or Napoleon before, so it was all new to me and I really enjoyed it. I subsequently got the other 2 books in the trilogy as gifts and read them too. This book, and the other 2 books, are very pleasant reading. They are fiction, but Ms. Gulland has done her research of the times thoroughly, so I felt that I had also learned an accurate account of French history from those years.

Since reading these books, however, I have read a purely historical, non-fiction book about Josephine and found that this trilogy of books is extremely sympathetic to Josephine to the point of leaving out some the less honorable parts of her life. So, even though the historical events are correct, I didn't feel her life was presented accurately at all. For example, in the non-fiction book, the introduction states that many people did not like Josephine and that she has not been portrayed kindly among historians. This was a shock to me since in Ms. Gulland's books, Josephine is shown in such a favorable, sympathetic light.

The books are written in diary form, so maybe the author is presenting the skewed facts as how Josephine would want them to appear to the public, conveniently leaving out some of her extramarital affairs for example, or turning them into platonic friendships. That could be the case. Anyway, the book was fun to read and very enjoyable as fiction.
reviewed The Many Lives & Secret Sorrows of Josephine B. (Josephine B., Bk 1) on + 27 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 7
Fictionalized account of the early life of Josephine Bonaparte. (first of a trilogy) Solid historical fiction, extensively researched.
bookaddict avatar reviewed The Many Lives & Secret Sorrows of Josephine B. (Josephine B., Bk 1) on
Helpful Score: 3
The first book in the trilogy of historical fiction about Josephine Bonaparte. Beautifully written, absorbing!
reviewed The Many Lives & Secret Sorrows of Josephine B. (Josephine B., Bk 1) on + 134 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
I loved this book, it feels epic and is written in the form of her journals.... spans from her childhood to the marriage of she and Bonaparte... this is the first in the series.
Read All 21 Book Reviews of "The Many Lives Secret Sorrows of Josephine B Josephine B Bk 1"

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jodiebeth avatar reviewed The Many Lives & Secret Sorrows of Josephine B. (Josephine B., Bk 1) on + 2 more book reviews
Started slow..I was expecting more "the other bolyn girl" than background on Josephine. So though it started slow for me, I got into it and was anxious to read book two. Now about to start book three.
reviewed The Many Lives & Secret Sorrows of Josephine B. (Josephine B., Bk 1) on + 10 more book reviews
great read, i had to continue with the two sequels.
Bernelli avatar reviewed The Many Lives & Secret Sorrows of Josephine B. (Josephine B., Bk 1) on + 266 more book reviews
First book in a trilogy about Josephine Bonaparte. Written in diary format, this is a fictionalize story of the woman who came to marry Napoleon Bonaparte. I found the story to be very interesting, and look forward to reading the next book in the series.


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