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Josephine

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Josephine

By: Carolly Erickson
Narrated by: S. Patricia Bailey
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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 Biographical Fiction Europe France Genre Fiction Historical Politics & Activism Royalty Women
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Critic reviews

"An intimate, richly detailed, and candid portrait." ( Kirkus Reviews)
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A pleasure to listen to. Great detail- compelling history. No fiction no fantasy, what a relief.

Fascinating-

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While finding the story of Josephine interesting, particularly as a woman of her time, for me, the narrator sounded as if she was about to fall asleep! There were a number of contradictions in the text, and too many repetitions. Why did the author feel it was necessary to describe in graphic, highly descriptive and bloody detail, the time of the guillotine? I know it was a time of extreme terror, but I don't need to know the minutiae. I AM thankful that this was a free listen!


Bloody Times

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Fantastic telling of the life of one of theost famous names in history, and one who I am sorry to say I knew little of apart from in her second husband's shadow.
Read engagingly and well paced.
Thoroughly enjoyed it and thoroughly recommended.

Behind every great man.... is a fascinating and equally worthy woman

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Fascinating and brilliantly researched book giving a detailed account of the extraordinary life of Josephine.

Brilliant book to listen to…fascinating

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This is not just a recounting of a life in extraordinary times, but a compassionate telling of the story of a hapless woman caught up in momentous events. It took me a while to adjust to the slightly low key delivery of the narrator, but once that was overcome, I think it was the right approach. A tabloid , hysterical delivery wouldn’t have improved the narrative. It’s an amazing story with many parallels in modern political events and one that I , personally , found completely compelling.

Josephine by Carolyn Erickson

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