Sandra Gulland

The Josephine B. referred to in the title is, of course, Josephine Bonaparte. What I didn't know until I read this book is that she did not become known as Josephine until she was married to Napoleon Bonaparte. She was born Marie-Joseph-Rose and was known as Rose until she was 32 years old. Bonaparte decided to rename her and so she goes down in history as Josephine.

I also did not know that Rose/Josephine was married and widowed prior to meeting Bonaparte. Her husband, Alexandre de show more Beauharnais, was a Parisian noble who turned Republican when the French Revolution began. He was a man of some influence becoming a general in the army and a Deputy in the Republican government. Then he lost a battle and he was taken prisoner and eventually killed by guillotine. Rose was also put in prison but she was released soon after Robespierre was ejected from power and also guillotined. Rose and her two children were still not able to return to their house and Rose had little in the way of income. But Rose was determined to educate her children and provide them with a decent home and she managed to do so. One of the reasons she agreed to marry Bonaparte was to provide some stability for her children. She certainly did not love him.

This book ends just after their marriage but Sandra Gulland has continued the story of Josephine in two more books. I certainly want to learn more about this fascinating woman. show less

A very good, if sad, ending to this Trilogy. Well worth a read to see the events of the Revolution (Book 1) and the ensuing period of Napoleon's rule. Gives a very different perspective to this period and to Napoleon. As they say the victors write the history! (Just look at the case of Richard III to illustrate this). Glad I didn't have his family, and you wonder how much of his demise was of their doing and whether events may have been different if he'd stayed married to Josephine. She does show more come across as a remarkable woman who had a very interesting life. show less

I read all three books of this series during my vacation. It was a wonderful escape into the life of a person I was largely unfamiliar with. Her life was so varied and would have been unbelievable as fiction if we didn't know that it is based on fact. Sandra Gulland wove this tale beautifully, drawing me into this character's world until I was desperately needing to know what happened next, dreaming about these people and their relationships, and staying up way past my bedtime. For me, that show more is my measure of great books. show less

Mistress of the Sun is the story of Louise de la Valliere known to be Louis XIV first official mistress. The book follows her life from about age six through to her death at 65. She was an unusual women living in extraordinary times. She came to the attention of Louis by way of her horsemanship and hunting skills. He eventually took her on his hunting trips where she would dress like a man and fit in with his closest circle of male friends.

She was a woman of many contradictions. On the one show more hand riding and hunting, but on the other prone to attacks of weakness and illness. She broke her ankle in childhood and it wasn’t set properly so she walked with a slight limp all her life, yet she loved to dance and was considered to be extremely light on her feet. A convent trained, religious women, who felt extreme guilt at her relationship with Louis, yet she appeared to truly love him and the children they had together.

I absolutely loved this book and was very caught up in the day-to-day workings of the French monarch’s life, his court, the scandals, the relationships and all the superstitions, treachery and ceremony that a kings life entails. The author maintains a great balance between historical details and a highly entertaining story. This is the kind of book that makes you feel like curling up and losing yourself in it’s rich, gossipy style. show less