The Secret Life of Josephine: Napoleon's Bird of Paradise

by: Carolly Erickson

Published by: St. Martin's Griffin

Reviewed by Heather Durow

Young, beautiful Rose Tascher of Martinique leads a fairly charmed life, despite the fact that her parents quarrel, her father is an adulterer, and money is tight. At fifteen, she is foolish enough to believe she may marry the young soldier she loves. She also encounters a strange and intriguing boy with whom she forms a bond that will last until her dying day.

But life, especially for a young girl in 1778, does not always give us what we desire.
Rose is soon married off to a man she barely knows to ensure her family’s wealth and sent to live in Paris. She has longed to live in rich, thriving Paris. Her marriage, she soon discovers, will not be a happy one, with her husband in love with someone else and the father of an illegitimate child.

Now Vicomtesse de Beauharnais, Rose begins to lavish herself with what she obviously deserves: high fashion at high prices, all at her husband’s expense of course. Why should she not have the things she desires if she has to face a loveless marriage?

Eventually, after giving her new husband a son and daughter, he leaves her for the love of his life. Revolution soon follows and Rose is tossed into the chaos, along with the rest of
France.

After living a life of parties and being with more than her fair share of men, Rose would become Josephine, the good luck charm of one of histories most notorious military men,
Napoleon Bonaparte.

Though more hardships are to come her way, Josephine’s life would be one of intrigue, courage and above all, love.

Carolly Erickson tells a wonderful tale of Josephine Bonaparte. The Secret Life of Josephine is told as if Josephine had written it herself, telling a friend of the many facets to her life. The writing is in-depth and well written. Although Ms. Erickson admits to taking creative license, the reader is engrossed in the story enough to believe this could have been Josephine’s life. I enjoyed this story enough to want to know the true life of this wonderful woman.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a historical fiction with a footing in history.

Armchair Interviews says: A very well-done historical fiction about Josephine.