Tales of Passion, Tales of Woe

Josephine Bonaparte #2

by Sandra Gulland

In the second novel in the acclaimed Josephine B. Trilogy, Sandra Gulland offers a sweeping yet intimate portrayal of the political and personal struggles of the wife of the most powerful man in the world.

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.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, France, Historical, Romance, 18th Century, Adult

352 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

About the author

I'm the author of the JOSEPHINE B. TRILOGY, the internationally best-selling novels based on the life of Josephine Bonaparte, Napoleon's wife. The Trilogy has been published in 17 countries.

The Trilogy was followed by MISTRESS OF THE SUN and then THE SHADOW QUEEN, a "sister" novel. Both novels are set in the Court of Louis XIV, the Sun King.

THE GAME OF HOPE, a Young Adult novel about Josephine Bonaparte's daughter (and Napoleon's stepdaughter), has been published in Canada and the US.

I am now writing another Young Adult historical novel about a young falconer in Elizabethan England.

An American-Canadian, I was born in Miami, Florida, and lived in Rio de Janeiro, Berkeley and Chicago before immigrating to Canada in 1970 to teach in an Inuit village in northern Labrador.

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 northeastern Ontario, where, in 1985, I began writing full-time.

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

For more information about me, my research and work, go to my website at www.sandragulland.com. I also write a blog, and can be found on the Net in a number of locals:

Website: http://www.sandragulland.com/
Blog: http://sandragulland.blogspot.com/
Facebook: http://bit.ly/sgullandFacebook
Twitter: http://twitter.com/Sandra_Gulland

Reviews

[Arah-Lynda · Rating 5 out of 5]

What is history but a fable agreed upon? – Napoleon

The book opens with the spirit of Marie Antoinette observing Josephine as she writes at her escritoire.

She’s not what one would call a beauty, yet he worships her with a passion that verges on madness! Big hazel eyes, I grant you, and yes, long curling lashes, a slender, graceful form, artful dress, etc., etc. - but are these qualities that bewitch? Perhaps it is the caress of her musical voice that has cast a spell. (I know about spells.) No it’s her maddening gentleness that drives him to despair. He wants to consume her, possess her, enchain her! And she…well I see that puzzled look in her eyes.

She pulls her shawl about her shoulders; I’ve chilled her, I know. It can’t be helped. She knows not the future. I do.

This the second book in Gulland’s brilliant trilogy spans the first four and a half years of Josephine’s marriage to Napoleon, arguably the most controversial period of her life.
Sandra Gulland would have us know that when she began her research on Josephine she assumed that all the scandalous stories about her were true. Her view point changed however, as a result of all her research and consultations with others. This novel then presents Josephine in light of Gulland’s new views that emerged from that meticulous research. They are supported by various historical documents, not the least of which are Napoleon’s letters. She invites historians to re-examine their sources and reassess the rumours surrounding this extraordinary woman.

The official union of Napoleon and Josephine was not at all pomp and circumstance. In fact Bonaparte was two hours late when he burst into the township office and demanded that the assistant to the registrar (who had left after waiting over an hour) marry them at once.

And now I stand hip to shoulder with the spirit of Marie peering over Josephine’s shoulder as her new life begins.

In a dark time, the eye begins to see. – Theodore Roethke

Join us.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok, so here's what happened. I read these and my then-boyfriend started reading them over my shoulder and took them from my hands as soon as I finished them. My sister read them for 10 hours on the train from Rochester to New York, to the detriment of her masters degree thesis. About 10 of my friends have read them, most of my relatives, and I've put them in the hands of total strangers in bookstores. I've given them as gifts about 5 times, the whole set. They are marvelous.

[Natasa · Rating 5 out of 5]

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. Full review you can find on my blog: https://poetryofreading.blogspot.com/...

[Elizabeth]

This is the second book in a fictionalized trilogy about Josephine's life. One strange thing I noticed was that when I began this sequel, I thought that perhaps I had found a different series by a different author. The tone and writing style were completely different from the first book. Regardless, I settled in and still found it to be an entertaining account of Josephine's life with Napoleon. It's a nice way to grasp the basic architecture of the events that followed the terror and Napoleon's rise. I visited Corsica fairly recently and it's always interesting to place a person in the country they are from. The landscape of Corisca is rough and wild.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so captivated by the life of Josephine Bonaparte. Her in-laws completely hated her and tried every possible way- lies against her virtue- to get Napoleon to divorce her. In the novel, she tries her best to be true to herself. She endures a major accident at a spa to get her menstral cycle going again- the procedures were nothing more than torture. She was thrown into conspiracy and intrigue and through it all comes to learn how much she loves her husband. I can't wait to read the last novel to see what happens. I am not a huge historian so know very little of the French Revolution. I do know that Napoleon was exiled on an island. I am curious to know how Josephine handles that situation and if she was allowed to be with Napolean.

I love how Sandra Gulland writes the story through the "journals" of Josephine. I felt like I really understood Josephine. I almost felt like it was me writing the entries. I felt like I was the character. I love when a book makes you feel involved and creates such emotion and vividness as one reads.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it as much as the first one in the trilogy. On to the last book!

[L · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoying this trilogy about French society pre and post revolution and of course, the rise and reign of Napoleon. I am always surprised that across time and geographic regions, human nature remains the same, economic conditions lead to upheaval and despite best of intentions, greed and inequity finds its way into governing structures -whether it’s a monarchy or constitutional government. The personal lives and romance between Josephine and Napoleon heightens the story.

[Ali · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's been several years since I read book #1 of this series but I always knew I wanted to, someday, continue this story. I know very little of French history and even less of Napoleon Boneparte so this is my history lesson. There is plenty of coverage about Napoleon's military conquests, so much so that parts of the book were bogged down by it. However, the glimpse into a marriage relationship is fascinating; especially one where fame is thrust upon them and they have to choose how to navigate the perils of political intrigue. I appreciate knowing details of the Boneparte story but was only halfway engaged in the telling.

[Stacie Dore · Rating 5 out of 5]

So well written and researched! I feel that I have just lived through the French Revolution, felt it, understood the details in a way that I was never able to in any high school or university setting. I didn't love or even like some of the historic personalities, but I understood every move they made. Nothing in this book was inconsistent, confusing or out of place. I can't wait to read the next but am going to force myself to wait so I can savour the last.

[Carrie Slager · Rating 5 out of 5]

After hearing about her incredible early years, in Tales of Passion, Tales of Woe focuses on Josephine’s most well-known years. And although she has gained a sort of infamous reputation from her supposedly numerous affairs while Bonaparte was in Egypt, this is not the way Sandra Gulland portrays her. You know what? This portrayal feels much more real, more authentic than the typical ‘immortal cheating harlot’ angle that Josephine is always portrayed from. In Gulland’s portrayal, we get to see how Josephine gradually does begin to care for Napoleon, how she soothes over the men in power so her husband may succeed and how she does her best to take care of her only two children by her first husband.

Although I think pacing isn’t as important in historical fiction, this second book in the Josephine B. trilogy is more fast-paced than the first. Perhaps it’s because I actually know a little about the events that occur in the novel or perhaps it’s because it was Gulland’s second book and she got a better feel for pacing. Who knows? All I know is that the pacing and even the quality of writing, which was already high, has improved.

Not only does Josephine come off as an incredibly strong woman, the other characters in the novel really popped out of the pages as well. Napoleon Bonaparte is portrayed in many different ways in movie, television and books but I’ve never really seen this portrayal of him: the awkward, graceless (yet handsome) Corsican who has no time for the nonsense of high society and who is oddly paranoid about poisoning. Having him around is a huge contrast to Josephine, who is graceful and takes to high society, even if she isn’t comfortable with it deep down. Bonaparte’s bizarre, ruthless family definitely doesn’t make it easy on poor Josephine or even Bonaparte himself! Having them around definitely added drama, but it’s not like they were the stereotypically evil in-laws because they had depth. They had real reasons for their actions, thank goodness.

I give this book 5/5 stars.

[Tamara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Luchtig en heel erg geromantiseerd verhaal over Napoleon en Joséphine. Geschreven vanuit het perspectief van Joséphine, waarbij we als lezer haar dagboek en brieven meelezen. Losjes gebaseerd op echte feiten.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am REALLY enjoying this series! I love the way this author depicts Josephine! There is little said about her in history and what is said isn't very flattering! With this book you really feel like you are inside her head and feel what her heart feels. You understand why she did some "controversial things." I'm afraid to read the last book because I know I'm going to cry...not a happy ending. BUT, I just read that one of the last things Napoleon said as he was dying was his beloved Josephine's name. I love historical fiction for all that I LEARN about history! This is up there on the top of my list!

[Stacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this second book in the Josephine Bonaparte trilogy. I love how Gulland gives the readers factual tidbits in the footnotes on the characters as well as further explaining things that happened during that time period. I have come to love Josephine and found myself doing further research on her as I was reading the novel. I look forward to book three, "The Last Great Dance On Earth". 🙂

[Hanna (lapetiteboleyn) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the first book last year, but it would have been easy to pick this up with no prior knowledge of the story. Sandra Gulland creates a strong, convincing character in Josephine, while Napoleon is charismatic, enigmatic and beguiling. This is a wonderful story, and an even better example of what good historical fiction can look like.

[Deb Farrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

The 2nd in the trilogy. Rose ( now known as Josephine) continues in her life with Napoleon Bonaparte. She supports him through his rise to fame in battle and French leadership, all while carrying on in her own life with past friendships and investment opportunities. Her children, from her first husband, now grown, have become successful in their individual achievements and have started to respect Bonaparte as a father figure. Josephine and Bonaparte have remained childless which is likely due to early onset menopause caused by Josephine’s confinement in prison post revolution. Some of her close friends and mentors have become enemies of the new regime (Napoleon and his crowd), so she finds herself conflicted, though she seems to truly care for Bonaparte. This book ends with the Bonaparte family moving into the Tuilleries Palace, the former palace of King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette, before they lost their lives at the guillotine. Josephine begins to see Marie Antoinette’s ghost in the palace.

[FatemehZahra JalaviNezhad · Rating 5 out of 5]

اگر کتاب دزیره رو دوست داشتید، قطعا این کتاب براتون جذاب خواهد بود. رمان داستانی-تاریخی با نثر روان و جذاب و ترجمه عالی که از قبل از انقلاب کبیر فرانسه(که ژوزفین کودک و نوجوان بوده) شروع میشه و تا انتهای امپراتوری ناپلئون ادامه پیدا میکنه.
نزدیک به ۱۰۰۰ صفحه هست که با وجود طولانی بودنش، اونقدر جذاب بود که دوست نداشتم تموم بشه.

[Jean St.Amand · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just as good as The Many Lives & Secret Sorrows of Josephine B. Really enjoyed the way the story was told through diary entries and letters. Looking forward to the third book. Interesting way to learn about the history of that time period.

[Diana Stevan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating account of Josephine's life with Napoleon. I never thought of him as a likeable character and yet, in this story, I discovered his humanity, all through Josephine's voice. As a mother, wife, lover, and astute politician herself, Josephine is a great character. Sandra Gulland does a magnificent job. It's obvious she did a lot of research to bring that time to life for her readers.

[Laurelin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Meticulously researched and lovingly crafted, Tales of Passion, Tales of Woe is the second in the Josephine Bonaparte trilogy. In this installment, newlyweds Josephine and Napoleon Bonaparte navigate political intrigue, family drama, and war as they learn to live with one another. I found this second entry in the series to be compelling, though not quite as engaging as the first novel. The pacing started to drag halfway through, but the story picked up in the last third. I once again found it interesting to learn more about Josephine Bonaparte's life and the conflicts she had with Napoleon Bonaparte's family, the business dealings she had during a time when women weren't supposed to be interested in anything related to finances, and her strength of will throughout the many changes in her life - most of which she had no control over. Another good read for lovers of historical fiction!

[Sean Chick · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second volume jumps around quite a bit. How Josephine comes to love Bonaparte is not well done, and Gulland has a very positive take Josephine's unfaithfulness. Yet, it is a fun read, filled with intrigue and emotion, and a wonderful attention to detail.

[Jeanette · Rating 3 out of 5]

Formed similarly as the first book in the series trilogy by diaries and letters, this one covers the last years of the 18th century up until the time that Napoleon and Josephine moved into the Tuilleries. The fortune told by the seer of her island girlhood is fulfilled, she is Queen.

This was not as core personal in tone, IMHO, as was the first book. After the Terror has ended and her husband has conquered the Austrians in Italy and the Egyptian campaign completed- and the English war commenced, the governmental portions of this are so chaotic! She is sick, she has a fall from a collapsing balcony and almost dies from the injuries. But more than the physical condition of Josephine or lengthy detail on personal relationship with Napoleon, this one courts all the under characters of the Revolution, her maids, Bonaparte's family (several marriages and dealing with Mama) far more than just the couple. He is whirlwind, she is a conduit.

The form for this passage length of their lives is not as facile to comprehend from the diary or letter form. Not simple to follow as the first book was. Mainly because this one contains dozens and dozens of name drop partial information tidbits, rather on the scale of gossip. But NOT gossip. Many of her most beloved from the Terror years die before 1800 and are years gone by the end of this book.

Josephine survives. As does her husband in non-stop and non-sleeping activities of empire building. Her son is injured in that same regard. Her daughter is now considered adult and is with her far more of the time. Matchmaking for at least 5 or 6 other related couples occurs. Some of them are not successful. Neither before the marriage or afterwards.

This, like the politics and mysteries that surround power bases (Lazarre is poisoned?)- is a far more difficult underpinning. So many intersects, connections to connote in two languages most of the time and with all types of military and uncertain circumstance. No simple read as the first book was.

Is Rose, now Josephine, happy? She tried a large business venture behind Napoleon's back. Certainly from her eyes it's still about all the people she needs to support and the income she has to earn for those purposes. (She paying tuition for her dead husband's illegitimate three on top of it.) But her physical state? The tooth donation/ replacement story is the least of it. Not to mention the "drops" because she is often, if not always, in pain.

Where are the bambinos?

[Dawn Lennon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again, it's the voice of the woman behind a major male change-maker in history who gives us, through her diary entries, the real "skinny" on what was really going on and why in France in the 1700s. This second in the series about Josephine Bonaparte is a page-turner that reveals so much about Napoleon and the plight of being his wife in turbulent times--turbulent for France and turbulent for Josephine.

Surprisingly, even after the two were married, Napoleon expected Josephine to cover her own debts, some of which were holdovers from the Terror and others the normal costs of raising and educating her children by her first husband and the need to put a roof over her head. That also included the costs of presenting her family in society, which at the time was costly. So Josephine needed to use her considerable business acumen to make real estate and other deals with powerful men without compromising herself.

Then there's Napoleon's need to do his part for the Republic which meant going off to war in foreign places, the conspiracies of his family toward Josephine whom they didn't like, and the fear and mayhem consistent with a country politically divided. Although this book takes place in the very late 1700s, the parallels to current global political inner workings are significant and its revelations about the grit, smarts, and vulnerabilities of women striking. In this book we learn about the past while we take stock of the present.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed this one a bit more. A depressing series though. I was glad and a little relieved to see that Josephine had some happiness with Bonaparte in this one, but knowing that it ends badly makes it hard to enjoy. Poor Josephine did not have a happy life.

It's very interesting/amusing to read about everything they thought they knew about the human body. All of their 'cures' and treatments, and being bled and leeches... so crazy. Seems like they had a better chance of surviving if they just stayed away from the dr all together.

Here's their views on a woman who's gone through menopause:
"First, one grows stout at the back of the neck, where two prominences form at the lowest cervical vertebrae.
The breast become flat and hard, less spongy.
The legs and arms dry up, resembling those of a man.
The abdomen enlarges to the extent that the woman may appear to be pregnant.
A beard often manifests itself."

I laughed for a while.

Another funny tidbit:
"The young considered it fashionable to look old as well as rumpled: shirts were slept in to give the right effect, servants given new clothes to "break in".

Definitely an interesting time. And now on to the third and final book.

[Mashell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had to remind myself that the french are much more open about physical relationships and art forms than I. However, I find myself being able to excuse that in exchange for historical information and a book that can capture a variety of emotions from me. This book found all my emotions; I laughed, chuckled at sarcastic remarks, gasped at the cruelty of family, cried at some of Josephine's misfortunes, heartaches and reliefs. I fell in love with both Josephine and Napoleon Bonaparte. I have read books on the English perspective of the French Revolution but until now hadn't read anything explaining the French side. I had also been under the impression that the French people didn't really want Napoleon as a leader but felt they didn't have anyone else to choose from. When he was first a general that might have been the case but the poeple grew to love him, as did Josephine.

[Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been saving up the reading of this second book of Sandra Gulland’s Josephine Bonaparte trilogy because I knew it would be great. I wasn't disappointed. I loved the feeling of intimacy while reading about the details of Josephine's day to day life. This is the most enjoyable way to learn history and I especially appreciated the footnotes and the enormous amount of research obviously done. Even with the journal style entries the writing flows beautifully and never feels choppy. I highly recommend this series.

[Kate Forsyth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second book in Sandra Gullard’s trilogy about the Empress Josephine, one of the most fascinating women in history. Told in first person, in diary form, the book has an immediacy which brings the character of Mrs Napoleon Bonaparte vividly to life. I think it helps to know the story well; I’ve read biographies of Napoleon and Josephine before and am studying the period, and so find it intriguing to have the story told in such a fresh and engaging way. However, if you are interested in knowing more about the period, these books may well be a good place to start.

[Lou · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book more than the first once of the series, largely because it was slightly less drawn out and her relationship with Bonaparte becomes a lot more interesting. However, I still find the diary format tedious to get through as it lacks momentum. I can understand why it was chosen but for me it makes the story a bit more disjointed.

I'd definitely recommend this book for people who enjoy historical fiction and want to know more about Josephine and Bonaparte's lives without having to trudge through a lot of politics!

[k · Rating 5 out of 5]

i have read this trilogy countless times and will continue to do so; sandra gulland is such an excellent author and this book is so well-researched and written. i have read a lot of josephine biographies and these books really paint a believable and lively portrait of a woman who is historically reduced to the most misogynistic tropes. such a fascinating person and such beautiful world building in these books. there are some factual liberties but not many, and they are all very intentional and constructive. i truly adore these books

[Erica Davis-Hernandez · Rating 4 out of 5]

#2 book in the historical fiction trilogy of Josephine Bounapartes life. Written as her personal journal entreis it follows historical events of the time while embellishing on her love affair and marriage with the Emperoro of France. A fun read.

[Chrissie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have written a review of the entire trilogy and put it under the firt book entitled The Many Lives & Secret Sorrows of Josephine B..