The Many Lives and Secret Sorrows of Josephine B. : A Novel [Paperback]

Sandra Gulland (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 439 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Canada, Limited (2000)
• ISBN-10: 0006485464
• ISBN-13: 978-0006485469
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (81 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,359,360 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I was born in Miami, Florida, in 1944, and lived in Rio de Janeiro, Berkeley and Chicago before immigrating to Canada in 1970 to teach in an Inuit village in northern Labrador for one year.

Settling in Toronto, I worked as a book editor for a decade before moving with my husband and two children to a log house in northern Ontario. Juggling children, a dog, three cats, pigs, chickens and a succession of horses, I worked as a freelance editor for five years before committing to writing full-time in 1985.

Ten years later, the first of the novels in the Josephine B. Trilogy was published. (The Trilogy is now published in 15 countries and in 13 languages.) Mistress of the Sun, my 4th novel, was published in 2008 (and is now in 8 languages).

Our children grown, my husband and I now live half the year in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, and half in Ontario.

For more information, please see my website at http://www.sandragulland.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Josephine's life via her diary--fabulous!, March 5, 2002

By 

Jill Myles "Jill Myles" (TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Many Lives & Secret Sorrows of Josephine B. (Paperback)

I'm not a big fan of the whole 'history via a character's diary' thing. But I grabbed this book on a whim and was quickly absorbed. Sandra Gulland makes her Josephine so real and lovable--she's not the out-of-reach French Empress who happened to cheat on Napoleon. Josephine is actually a very real, warm person with insecurities and loneliness and the same troubles that any of us would have. Her marriage is rough, she has to move far away from home, she worries about having the money for her children's education. You laugh, cry, and worry right along with Rose/Josephine.

The historical details in this are wonderful as well. It's obvious that Sandra Gulland put a lot of research into her book, and it certainly pays off. I immediately ordered the second and third book, and was not disappointed in any of them.

I recommend ordering the entire trilogy immediately. Trust me when I say you'll rip through all three in a record pace. They're that good.

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring, Entertaining, & Well Written/Researched, November 27, 2000

By 

njbookworm (New Jersey) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Many Lives & Secret Sorrows of Josephine B. (Paperback)

I applaud Gulland, the author, for choosing a lesser-studied historical figure and taking the time to write such an interesting (fact-based) fiction about her.

Told in the form of diary readings by and correspondence to Josephine (aka "Rose"), this first of three volumes discusses her early life, adolescence, first marriage, children, imprisonment, and reluctant relationship with Napoleon. During these years, Josephine was surrounded by revolution, intrigue, love, fear, and poverty.

Gulland bases the story on her years of reasearch. Her respect for Josephine and the historical period shows in her richly-crafted descriptions. I was entertained by many of the interesting tid-bits of information about he medical practices and beauty rituals of the day. (I am incredibly thankful that I was born in the 20th century!)

This is one of those books I had difficulty putting down. Each diary reading seemed to bring about a revalation which urged me to read on further. I felt like a voyeur -- spying into the life of Josephine by reading her most private thoughts.

My only criticism has to do with the pace of the book. At points the story zoomed forward, at other points it sputtered slowly ahead. Rather than pointing a finger at the author, I would likely attribute this varying pace to the subject matter. (Afterall, Josephine's life -- while interesting -- was not always at full throttle.) I expect that the pace will stay more consistent in volume 2, as it covers the most historically active part of Josephine's life.

Speaking of the second volume, I have already purchased it. I can't wait to see what else is in store. Happy reading!

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A pleasant surprise!, October 29, 2001

By 

L. M Prestwidge (South Pasadena, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Many Lives & Secret Sorrows of Josephine B. (Paperback)

A friend of mine read this book while on vacation in Hawaii. He loved it so much he immediately went to the bookstore to buy the second and third books in this trilogy. I had never heard of the book or the author, nor was I interested in the life of Josephine Bonaparte, but his enthusiastic praise was enough of an endorsement for me.

He was right. This is a book you will lose yourself in. Sandra Gulland has done an enormous amount of research on her subject, Josephine Bonaparte, a.k.a. Rose. It is very entertaining, as well as educational. Gulland's Josephine is a classy, gracious diplomat who helped shape history. When faced with a dilemma after reading this book, you will find yourself asking "What would Josephine do?" The book is written in diary format, and spans the time from Josephine/Rose's adolescence in Martinique, through the French Revolution, and up until the beginning of her relationship with Napoleon. Each chapter leaves you eager for the next one, and growing more and more fond of Josephine along the way.