Tales of Passion, Tales of Woe

Ellen Pilon is a library assistant in the Patrick Power Library at Saint
Mary’s University in Halifax.

This absorbing novel chronicles the story of Josephine de Beauharnais,
from her marriage to Napoleon Bonaparte in 1796 to their move into the
Tuileries Palace in 1800. The author decided to focus on this period
because it gave rise to scandalous stories, which, she discovered
through diligent research, are not true. Gulland’s goal is to use
fictional diaries (Josephine’s) to present the historical Josephine in
a new light. Through the diaries we learn about Josephine’s
relationship with Napoleon, we meet her colorful friends, we experience
the political intrigue that swirled around the Bonaparte family, and we
feel her loneliness and despair when Napoleon is in Egypt. The story
begins and ends ingeniously, with a visitation by the spirit of Marie
Antoinette, who wants to warn Josephine that history is cruel.

The occasional footnote clarifies historical events. In addition to the
excellent selected bibliography, the book includes a chronology and an
annotated list of characters. In a brief note at the end, Gulland points
out which scenes are based on historical documents. Tales of Passion,
Tales of Woe is historical fiction at its best.