Introduction

A sweeping historical debut about the Creole socialite who transformed herself into an empress
 
Readers are fascinated with the wives of famous men. In Becoming Josephine, debut novelist Heather Webb follows Rose Tascher as she sails from her Martinique plantation to Paris, eager to enjoy an elegant life at the royal court. Once there, however, Rose’s aristocratic soldier-husband dashes her dreams by abandoning her amid the tumult of the French Revolution. After narrowly escaping death, Rose reinvents herself as Josephine, a beautiful socialite wooed by an awkward suitor—Napoleon Bonaparte.
 
“A debut as bewitching as its protagonist.” —Erika Robuck, author of Hemingway’s Girl and Call Me Zelda
 
“Vivid and passionate.” —Susan Spann, author of The Shinobi Mysteries

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Excerpt

Malmaison

Paris, 1814

The missive arrived in the night. I paced from bed to bureau and back again, finally pausing to open the velvet drapes. The moon cast a ghostly glow on the dogwood blooms and barren rose gardens. My gardens of paradise. Others had intended it to be my prison, but I found it a hard-earned refuge. A place of safety after a lifetime of flight, a heavy crown, and the deaths of so many I held dear. ... view entire excerpt...

Discussion Questions

Josephine had something of an addiction, some would say. What was this addiction? How did this addiction affect her lifestyle? Her family?

Women led much of the picketing and violence during the French Revolution. Why do you think that is? What did women stand to gain?

Why did the fashions change so rapidly during the decade after the burning of the Bastille? What did these changes say about the times?

What are some similarities between Napoleon and Josephine’s backgrounds? In other words, how would they connect in terms of compatibility and understanding one another?

In your opinion, could Napoleon have been as successful a ruler as he was without his “lucky star” by his side? Why or why not?

What parallels might one draw between Marie-Antoinette and Josephine?

Can you think of three ways Josephine grew and changed, either positively or negatively, by the end of the novel?

Did Josephine’s better character qualities outweigh those that were negative? How so?

Weblinks

»	Author Heather Webb's website
»	Follow Heather Webb on Twitter
»	Follow Heather Webb on Facebook
»	Publisher's Book Info

Book Club Recommendations

Recommended to book clubs by 2 of 2 members.

by clobaza (see profile) 02/17/15
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