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Josephine

By: Carolly Erickson
Narrated by: S. Patricia Bailey
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Publisher's summary

When, in 1804, Josephine Bonaparte knelt before her husband Napoleon to receive the imperial diadem, few in the vast crowd of onlookers were aware of the dark secrets hidden behind the imperial facade. To her subjects she appeared to be the most favored woman in France: alluring, wealthy, and with the devoted love of a remarkable husband who was the conqueror of Europe. In actuality Josephine's life was far darker, for her celebrated allure was fading, her wealth was compromised by massive debt, and her marriage was corroded by infidelity and abuse.

Josephine's life story was as turbulent as the age, an era of revolution and social upheaval, of the guillotine and of frenzied hedonism. With telling psychological depth and compelling literary grace, Carolly Erickson brings the complex, charming, ever resilient Josephine to life in this memorable portrait, one that carries the reader from the sensual richness of her childhood in the tropics to her final lonely days at Malmaison.

©1998 Carolly Erickson (P)2000 Blackstone Audiobooks
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Critic reviews

"An intimate, richly detailed, and candid portrait." (Kirkus Reviews)

What listeners say about Josephine

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Biased, but a good read.

This book reads like fiction, the narrator was wonderful, and I found myself completely immersed in the ever changing life of this amazing woman. When Josephine died and the book ended, I almost felt like I lost a friend. However, be warned: this book is very biased. Josephine wasn't a saint and she wasn't always the victim. I will be following this book with a biography of Napoleon to get another view of their marriage. Good book, good narrator... I highly recommend it to anyone.

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Not just tonight Josephine

I was blown away with the intriguing range of this remarkable historical woman's story. Such a marvelous story.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Enthralling

Couldn’t stop listening. It gave an intriguing look into the life and times of a fascinating woman.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Well told

Highly recommended. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is well written and the reading was excellent.


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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

For lovers of supposition

Good subject matter but it reads more like fiction than actual history. It is impossible to count the number of times you hear "she must have."

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

thank you

indeed a very informative story.u did enjoy a d live the multi culture and history of it

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Josephine

Well envisioned dialog. The story moves along nicely.
The narrative and the narrator fit nicely.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Fascinating!

Loved learning about someone I knew next to nothing about. As a bonus I expanded my understanding of history.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A different view on this amazing woman

I liked it; it’s interactive to listen to her life. It’s worth listening to it

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

A little confusing for the first 13 chapters

13 chapters in it was finally revealed that Rose is actually Josephine. For those first 13 chapters I was wondering when the book would introduce the main character. Probably would’ve helped to set that up earlier in the book so readers don’t sit there and wonder for so long. Other than that it was an interesting book

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4 people found this helpful