Becoming Josephine

by University of Cambridge Heather Webb

• ISBN10: 0142180653
• ISBN13: 9780142180655
• Publish Date: 31 December 2013
• Publish Status: Temporarily Withdrawn
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Plume Books
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 310
• Language: English

Reviews

[Whitney @ First Impressions Reviews]

With the exclusion that Josephine was married to Napoleon Bonaparte I knew next to nil about this historical figure. I instantly fell in love. The descriptions were vivid, the story sweeping, and immediately rooted for Josephine. She led a very interesting life with difficulties that could have caused her to roll into a ball and huddle in the corner, waiting until the coast was clear, but she stood tall. It this regard she reminded me of Scarlet O'Hara and her gumption. Perhaps it is just my love for the novel, but I could see Josephine creating a dress out of curtains to seduce a Rhett Butleresque character if it would be to her benefit.

While I enjoyed Heather Webb's novel from beginning to end the section that most caught my attention was Josephine's time at Les Carmes prison. I found her stint there to be revealing, not only of the strength of her character but also how much her story had gripped me, I needed to read this book like I needed to breath oxygen. To be cliche, I was spellbound.

After a tantalizing time the meeting and eventual relationship between Napoleon and Josephine emerges. The moment that had been just beyond the horizon had come and frankly, I was indifferent. Bonaparte encompassed a spoiled toddler going through the "terrible twos" and the peripheral was family squabbles. It was still a very interesting soapbox with Josephine coming off as Mother Teresa. I think, because said relationship is all I knew about the heroine I was expecting some big bang and instead was only as large as Bonaparte. Even still, I was in rapture by the storytelling, only this time I slowed down a bit and enjoyed the view.

Overall, Becoming Josephine was a worthwhile read and captured my imagination long after my Kindle had been switched off.

[Lianne]

This review in its entirety was originally posted at eclectictales.com: http://www.eclectictales.com/blog/2014/01/06/review-becoming-josephine-giveaway/

Becoming Josephine is a rich novel that follows Rose from her early days in Martinique to her experiences both in the French Royal Court, the rise of the French Revolution and into Napoleon’s life and his Court. It was interesting to see major figures of the time weave in and out of Rose’s life as well as the ideas and social sentiments that were prevalent at the time. The reader also gains a sense of the confusion and the precariousness of the period, especially around the time of the Revolution and its descent to the Terror–no one was safe and the reader is left unsure whether certain characters around Rose will live or die.

Rose herself is a fully-realised character. She has her own dreams, her visions of what she wants out of her life and sticks by them. Rose underwent a massive learning curve about Paris and Parisian/Court life and customs in the first few years that she was in Paris, including all of the hurt. She also has her own faults and makes mistakes, all of which fleshes her out further as a character, making her three-dimensional.

Overall I really enjoyed reading Becoming Josephine. The scope in which the author covered the character’s life is impressive and it feels like the reader is right with her as she lives through such uncertain times. Readers of French history and historical fiction will definitely want to check out this novel!