This is an Online Internet Book Club on The Many Lives & Secret Sorrows of Josephine B. by Sandra Gulland. Discuss this book, share your thoughts, make comments, ask questions, offer responses...
Description
Since completing high school history, few of us have managed to keep straight the details of the French Revolution. Beyond suggestions of eating cake and the effectiveness of the guillotine, this sordid time period has remained--for many--somewhat obscure. Now, through the novel
The Many Lives and Secret Sorrows of Josephine B., not only do we learn of the many differences between Robespierre and Rousseau, but we gain insight into the marriage of one of history's greatest political couples: Napoleon and Josephine.
Standing beside the charismatic Napoleon, Josephine's own importance and fascinating history have often been overshadowed. In a fictionalized account of Josephine's diaries and her correspondence, author Sandra Gulland has shed light on Josephine's pre-Napoleon life. This, the first of three books about Josephine, covers her childhood in Martinique, her first marriage, the birth of her children, her life during the revolution, and her marriage to Napoleon.
A poor Creole outsider as well as a rising socialite, Josephine experienced both the horrors of imprisonment and the privilege of connections. Utilizing these different perspectives, Gulland takes special care to bring forth the reality of life in late 18th-century France. Though she can only theorize on Josephine's emotions and desires, Gulland's talented writing and the restrained use of footnotes keep the reader properly informed on pertinent details, whether they be obscure political events or voodoo beliefs. While professional historians may bristle at the artistic license Gulland employs, most readers will find her novel a satisfying and engaging introduction to this dramatic period. --Nancy R.E. O'Brien
Book Club Questions for The Many Lives & Secret Sorrows of Josephine B. (Fiction)
Suggested Book Club Questions for The Many Lives & Secret Sorrows of Josephine B. (Fiction)
The following book club questions provide a starting point for creating a reading group discussion on The Many Lives & Secret Sorrows of Josephine B.:
- Did Sandra Gulland emphasize any specific themes throughout The Many Lives & Secret Sorrows of Josephine B.? What do you think Sandra Gulland is trying to explain with this theme?
- What was unique about the setting of The Many Lives & Secret Sorrows of Josephine B. and how did it affect the storyline?
- Could you relate to any of the characters? If so, which ones and why?
- How do characters change or learn throughout The Many Lives & Secret Sorrows of Josephine B.? What events caused these changes? Have you or someone you know experienced the same thing?
- How does The Many Lives & Secret Sorrows of Josephine B. reveal Sandra Gulland's own perspectives about people and the world? For a lively discussion, describe why you think Sandra Gulland is liberal or conservative.
- Did certain parts of The Many Lives & Secret Sorrows of Josephine B. affect you emotionally? Why did it evoke those emotions?
- Did Sandra Gulland's point of view on things lend new perspective to your own view of the world?
Book Club Questions for The Many Lives & Secret Sorrows of Josephine B. (for Non-Fiction)
Suggested Book Club Questions for The Many Lives & Secret Sorrows of Josephine B. (Non-fiction)
The following book club questions provide a starting point for creating a reading group discussion on The Many Lives & Secret Sorrows of Josephine B.:
- Did Sandra Gulland make persuasive arguments in The Many Lives & Secret Sorrows of Josephine B.? Did The Many Lives & Secret Sorrows of Josephine B. change or reinforce your opinion on the subject?
- What did you learn from The Many Lives & Secret Sorrows of Josephine B.?
- How does Sandra Gulland present the information and did you enjoy it?
- How is Sandra Gulland biased within The Many Lives & Secret Sorrows of Josephine B.? Is there a political slant to what is being discussed and how does it impact the book?
- What, if anything, does The Many Lives & Secret Sorrows of Josephine B. make you want to read next? Why?
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