Tales of Passion, Tales of Woe by Sandra Gulland
Synopsis:
Beginning in Paris in 1796, the saga continues as Josephine awakens to her new life as Mrs. Napoleon Bonaparte. Through her intimate diary entries and Napoleon's impassioned love letters, an astonishing portrait of an incredible woman emerges. Gulland transports us into the ballrooms and bedrooms of exquisite palaces and onto the blood-soaked fields of Napoleon's campaigns. As Napoleon marches to power, we witness, through Josephine, the political intrigues and personal betrayals -- both sexual and psychological -- that result in death, ruin, and victory for those closest to her.
My Review:
“I confess that I enjoy this vocation, in spite of my sex. I feel a certain thrill, as if I were visiting a lover. But it is money I court, money that woos me, and the intoxicating power to earn a very great deal.”
Tales of Passion, Tales of Woe is the second book, following The Many Lives and Secret Sorrows of Josephine B. in Sandra Gulland’s trilogy about Empress Josephine, wife of Napoleon. The novels are written in the form of a diary by Josephine, interspersed with letters to her from Napoleon and others. While the first book told Josephine’s story from her childhood in Martinique to her marriage to Napoleon, this book covers a shorter period: the first four years of their marriage, from 1796 to 1800.
The author portrays a true and compelling picture of the historical Empress. She makes her likable and yet conflicting and complex at the same time. Her struggles with her in-laws are the most difficult ones for her and you feel her struggles while cheering her strength for enduring them with the patience of a saint. I also like how the author describes the ever-changing roles in Josephine’s life as her husband gains political power and becomes a formidable figure in Europe.
Gulland describes the political intrigues surrounding Napoleon in great detail, but enough so she never confuses the reader. The novel has many details about the finance and politics of the time, which might seem tiring at first, but she writes in such a way that it becomes fascinating. She also writes vividly of the fashion, entertainments, and customs of the time, and makes everything come to life for the reader.
Excellent accurate work on historical data and facts. Very exciting, romantic. Gulland is a masterful storyteller who brings Josephine and the events in which she finds herself—better still, she engages the reader’s heart and head and in doing so creates an unforgettable interpretation of a remarkable woman and time.
The Review of The Many Lives & Secret Sorrows of Josephine B. you can find here
My Rating:
✬✬✬✬✬
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