A review by kadomi
The Many Lives & Secret Sorrows of Josephine B. by Sandra Gulland

4.0

I unexpectedly really enjoyed this book. My recent forays into historical fiction have been unsuccessful, but this was really good. Written mostly in first person narrative in form of Josephine's diary, the first book of the trilogy looks into the life of the later Empress Josephine Bonaparte, who was actually named Marie Josephe Rose when she was born on Martinique. We learn her story from her childhood on Martinique through her marriage in France and life during the French Revolution. The book ends with her second marriage, to Napoleon.

Back in highschool, the only time that I enjoyed history class was when our French teacher made us learn about the French revolution. Some of that fervor came back to me when I read this book, especially realizing what a scary time it must have been during the Reign of Terror.

In any case Rose was a wonderful lens to gaze at life during the French Revolution, and I am definitely invested to read the other books now.