Tales of Passion, Tales of Woe [Paperback]

Sandra Gulland (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 23, 2009

Tales of Passion, Tales of Woe is the much-awaited sequel to Sandra Gulland's highly acclaimed first novel, The Many Lives & Secret Sorrows of Josephine B. 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.

--This text refers to the Unbound edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Gulland continues the saga of Josephine Bonaparte with her marriage to Napoleon in 1796. Although the revolutionary bloodbath has ended, France remains convulsed by political upheaval. Josephine's position depends on her cultivation of those in power and on her husband's military successes. Burdened by mounting debts and harassed by Bonaparte family members intent on destroying her reputation, Josephine survives through shrewdness and charm. Napoleon's adoration often weighs heavy, as when he summons her to join him near remote battlefields. But much of her time is spent waiting in France, especially during his disastrous Egyptian campaign. Told mostly through Josephine's journal entries, this installment is not as compelling as The Many Lives & Secret Sorrows of Josephine B, in part because much of the action occurs off stage. However, Gulland continues to integrate historical detail effectively. While this segment may not win the trilogy many new readers, those who enjoyed the first volume will remain intrigued enough to follow Napoleon's path to power in 1800 and to await the rest of the story. For public libraries.AKathy Piehl, Minnesota State Univ., Mankato
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Review

Alison Weirauthor of The Children of Henry VIIIAn often-moving book that keeps the reader in a happy state of constant anticipation.

Diane Schoemperlenwinner of the 1998 Governor General's Award for FictionUtterly mesmerizing...a seamless blend of fact and fiction that moves historical fiction to a whole new level.

Faith Sullivanauthor of The Cape AnnShrewd and engaging...moving, entertaining, conscientiously researched, and, yes, fun.

Merilyn SimondsMontreal GazetteEverything a reader could hope for and more...

Nancy WigstonThe Toronto StarSandra Gulland's second installment of her history of Josephine, Empress of France, is that rare phenomenon: a second novel even better than the first. --This text refers to the Unbound edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 370 pages
• Publisher: Harpercollins Canada (March 23, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1554682851
• ISBN-13: 978-1554682850
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,782,147 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

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Insightful, Well Researched, and a Fun Read, April 27, 2000

By 

"kotinca" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tales Of Passion, Tales Of Woe (Paperback)

This book starts after Josephine and Napolean are married. It gives a deep insight into their marriage, their quarrels, and how they shaped and liberated France. While it is a love story, it isn't terribly gushy. It has its footholds in reality, making it a pleasant read for a man. It touches briefly upon war, but primarily explains the preparations and after effects. It doesn't really go into what happened on the fields. The author filled this book with so many facts that it would make a great reference. It would also give a highschool student who was anti-learning about history a different view, perhaps even peak their interest. The entire book is footnoted.

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Josephine and Napoleon! Vivre la France!, November 8, 1999

By 

MoiJill "moijill" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tales Of Passion, Tales Of Woe (Paperback)

I was a nervous wreck waiting for "Tales of Passion..." to be released. And when it arrived in NY stores, I had a salesclerk pull it right from the shipping boxes! It took me 3 days to complete this fabulous continuation of Josephine's life. I had feared it wouldn't even compare to the first, but now I can't decide which one I LOVE more. I haven't been this excited about a book since Memoirs of a Geisha (which I read 3 years ago.) I'll be in withdrawl from now until Part III. Hurry up Ms. Gulland! What will I do when its over!

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars VERY addictive!, June 15, 2000

By 

Marie Audrey L. - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tales Of Passion, Tales Of Woe (Paperback)

A wonderful book, far more interesting than the first volume. Once you begin to read the first words of this book, you will be slowly hypnotised into her world. You will be transformed into Josephine herself and relive the wars, the romance, the terror, her emotions and thoughts. A three dimensional feeling will overcome you, and suddenly you'll find that you are imprisoned in the world of the past; deep in a dark winter night in a jasmine-scented room, writing a letter with the light of a single candle where you can only hear the sound of the fire crackling and the cold wind rustling. And you WON'T want to return. You will bring Josephine to your dreams, in a mysterious night in the alluring melancholic music of a harp. Oh, it's completely mesmerizing!