Pierre Branda's new (in every sense of the word) biography of Josephine is a breath of fresh air. He rightly consigns to the past the emphasis on Josephine's loves and excesses, concentrating rather on her remarkable ability to survive, whether a failed first marriage, time in Revolutionary prison, almost execution, childlessness or even imperial divorce. Branda correctly provides the reader with the portrait of a strong, independent woman, ruthless in her pursuit of power and independence, for herself and for her children. Skilful in her money-making activities, knowing in her relations with Napoleon, manipulative, and also vain. Another key feature of this book is the recalibration of Josephine's infamous relationship with Director Paul Barras. Branda interestingly comes to the conclusion that they were never lovers, but just friends. Through this careful reconsideration of certain memoirs, and the jettisoning of some others altogether, now we can really get an idea of what Napoleon saw in Marie-Joseph Rose Tascher de La Pagerie, first Empress of the French… (Peter Hicks)
Further information:
Pierre Branda's Forward (translated in English).
Marie de Bruchard's interview with the author.
Contents:
Part 1: JOSÉPHINE AVANT JOSÉPHINE / JOSEPHINE BEFORE JOSEPHINE
I. Itinéraire d'une enfant gâtée ? / Itinerary of a spoilt child?
II. Le temps des épreuves / Time of trials
III. Une renaissance en or / A ‘golden' renaissance
IV. Liaisons dangereuses / Dangerous liaisons
Part 2: UNE SECONDE NAISSANCE / A SECOND BIRTH
V. Et Napoléon apparut / Enter Napoleon
VI. Le mariage éclair / A quick wedding
VII. Lettres d'amour / Love letters
VIII. La belle Italie / Bella Italia
IX. Jeux de pouvoir / Power games
Part 3: TRAHISONS… TRAHISONS… / BETRAYALS… BETRAYALS…
X. S'enfuir? / Escape?
XI. Le voile est levé / The veil is lifted
XII. Une retraite calculée / A calculated retreat
XIII. Jours décisifs / Days of decision
Part 4: PREMIERS PAS / FIRST STEPS
XIV. Première dame / First Lady
XV. Le piège de l'hérédité / The heredity problem
XVI. A un pas du trône / A step away from the throne
XVII. Naissance d'une impératrice / Birth of an Empress
Part 5: UN COURT APOGÉE / A SHORT APOGEE
XVIII. Le couronnement de Joséphine / Josephine's coronation
XIX. Joséphine en majesté / Josephine in majesty
XX. Une icône à éclipses / Ups and downs of an icon
XXI. Exotisme et jeunes dentelles / Exoticism and a taste for the new
XXII. Puiser dans le 'sac'/ Living beyond her means
Part 6: LA CHUTE ET L'ULTIME SURSAUT / THE FALL AND THE FINAL REBOUND
XXIII. Nuages sur un trône / Clouds over the throne
XXIV. Dans les tentacules de la pieuvre / In the tentacles of 'la pieuvre'
XXV. Le sacrifice / The sacrifice
XXVI. L'exil / The exile
XXVII. Le dernier acte / The last act
Notes
Sources and bibliography
Maps
Index
Thanks