Skip to main content
PBS logo
 
 

Search - Tales of Passion, Tales of Woe (Josephine B., Bk 2)

Tales of Passion, Tales of Woe (Josephine B., Bk 2)
Tales of Passion Tales of Woe - Josephine B., Bk 2
Author: Sandra Gulland
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...  more »
Info icon
The Market's bargain prices are even better for Paperbackswap club members!
Retail Price: $15.00
Buy New (Paperback): $12.29 (save 18%) or
Become a PBS member and pay $8.39+1 PBS book credit Help icon(save 44%)
ISBN-13: 9780684856070
ISBN-10: 0684856077
Publication Date: 11/16/1999
Pages: 384
Rating:
  • Currently 4.2/5 Stars.
 79

4.2 stars, based on 79 ratings
Publisher: Touchstone
Book Type: Paperback
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

reviewed Tales of Passion, Tales of Woe (Josephine B., Bk 2) on + 121 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
I found the first book in this trilogy while taking a cruise in 2005. It was in the library swap section, so I started it then and there and took it home with me. I had never read anything on Josephine Bonaparte or Napoleon before, so it was all new to me and I really enjoyed it. I subsequently got this second book in the trilogy as a gift.

This book, and the other 2 books, are very pleasant reading. They are fiction, but Ms. Gulland has done her research of the times thoroughly, so I felt that I had also learned an accurate account of French history from those years.

Since reading these books, however, I have read a purely historical, non-fiction book about Josephine and found that this trilogy of books is extremely sympathetic to Josephine to the point of leaving out some the less honorable parts of her life. So, even though the historical events are correct, I didn't feel her life was presented accurately at all. For example, in the non-fiction book, the introduction states that many people did not like Josephine and that she has not been portrayed kindly among historians. This was a shock to me since in Ms. Gulland's books, Josephine is shown in such a favorable, sympathetic light.

The books are written in diary form, so maybe the author is presenting the skewed facts as how Josephine would want them to appear to the public, conveniently leaving out some of her extramarital affairs for example, or turning them into platonic friendships. That could be the case. Anyway, the book was fun to read and very enjoyable as fiction.
Read All 13 Book Reviews of "Tales of Passion Tales of Woe Josephine B Bk 2"

Please Log in to Rate these Book Reviews

reviewed Tales of Passion, Tales of Woe (Josephine B., Bk 2) on
Still reading this book (in between others), but have enjoyed it a great deal. Wonder how much of it is an accurate portrayal of the historical figures in the story.
reviewed Tales of Passion, Tales of Woe (Josephine B., Bk 2) on + 3 more book reviews
Fabulous read! Highly recommend reading the trilogy.
reviewed Tales of Passion, Tales of Woe (Josephine B., Bk 2) on + 24 more book reviews
Story starts right after night that Bonaparte is married to Rose/Josephine. Loved the story. Trilogy is great. can't wait to start the last book.


Genres: