Andrea Stuart’s biography of Josephine Bonaparte, The Rose of Martinique, documents the unbelievable life of the Empress, from her childhood in Martinique to her death in France in 1814. Though this book is a historical biography, it often reads more like a novel, following Josephine throughout her childhood, to her rough transition into womanhood, and eventually Empress of France. While the book is full of historical background and context, I am sure that those usually bored by such details will find this book strongly engaging, as the dramatic events of Josephine’s life pull us into her world of nineteenth century France, arguably the most turbulent and infamous times of French history, including the Reign of Terror, in which Josephine narrowly escapes the guillotine, and the rise and fall of Napoleon Bonaparte.
Born in June of 1763 in Les Trois-Îlets, Martinique as Marie Josèph Rose Tacher de la Pagerie, she was known as Rose throughout her childhood, growing up on a sugar plantation. Stuart delves deep into the fantasy and myth surrounding the islanders, known in France as Creoles, as well as touching on the unfortunate truths of island life, which depended greatly upon the use of slave labor. Stuart makes no attempt to hide the atrocities that were committed by the French inhabitants of the island, noting the hypocrisy and confusion with which we may view Josephine and her family; though they were a close loving family, and though the island of Martinique was often seen as a luxurious, romantic and exotic locale, there were dark, morally ambiguous aspects as well, and the author makes sure to note this dichotomy. However, for the French, Martinique remains as an exotic and sultry ideal that is also applied to the women who live there, a myth that plays to Josephine’s advantage in her later life in France.
By the arrangement of an aunt living in France, Rose moves to Paris in 1779 to marry Alexandre de Beauharnais, who was also born, though not raised, in Martinique, the son of François de Beauharnais, who served as Governor of Martinique. However, the marriage proved to be extremely unhappy, as Stuart documents the numerous extramarital affairs had by Alexandre and the extreme isolation experienced by Rose, who found herself out of place in Parisian society. Estranged beyond reconciliation, Rose moved into a convent in November of 1783 with her son Eugène, leaving her infant daughter with her nurse. Stuart explains how convents in the nineteenth century were often seen as quite fashionable; many widows, unmarried women, or married women experiencing marital problems sought solace at such places, and it is here that Rose truly matures into a young Parisienne, shedding her Creole habits and adopting the ways of speaking and acting as fashionable young French women.
Rose’s involvement in the Reign of Terror is perhaps the most dramatic part of the book. Rose’s husband Alexandre was involved in much of the political debate leading up to the Revolution, and he was given both political and military appointments. As Alexandre’s fame grew, so did Rose’s. During this time, Rose became acquainted with most of the famous leaders of the Revolution. However, as figures such as Maximilien Robespierre came into power, those active in the early stages of the Revolution, and especially those of aristocratic background, such as Alexandre, came under suspicion. In 1794, Alexandre was arrested and kept in Les Carmes, a prison, only to be executed a few months later. Rose was also sent to the same prison, as she was married into an aristocratic family and familiar with many aristocratic and Revolutionary figures. Stuart aptly describes the horrific conditions under which Rose and her fellow captors lived, also suggesting that the health problems and mental state of Rose played a role in her inability to later conceive a child with Napoleon.
After the end of the Reign of Terror, Rose was released from prison and thrust into the Parisian society that would eventually lead her to her second husband, Napoleon Bonaparte. Before and during her marriage to Napoleon, Rose became a celebrated member of Parisian culture, enjoying romances with important military and political figures, setting the styles and fashions of the day, and attending and hosting parties. The remainder of the book discusses her relationship, marriage and divorce from Napoleon. The author does a good job of keeping the book focused on Rose, renamed as Josephine by Napoleon, rather than on her husband. What emerges is a portrait of Josephine that renders her as a real woman; we see both her flaws and her triumphs. We are able to get a feeling for her insecurities, her strengths, and her sincere kindness, which was remarked upon by many of the leaders of her time. Stuart does a wonderful and thorough job of providing a biographical account of Josephine Bonaparte, a woman who is often looked at only in the context of her second husband, and for this reason, I would recommend this book to everyone.
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