Tales of Passion, Tales of Woe: Indeed!

This morning, in preparation for my film interview on Josephine coming up (in France!), I finished rereading Tales of Passion, Tales of Woe—and I’m still weepy.

Imagine how I’m going to feel finishing The Last Great Dance on Earth.

I’m going over the long list of questions I will be asked. The last is: What image do you have of her today?

I’m tempted to say that this recently revealed portrait by the Italian artist Andrea Appiani the Elder—a portrait only presumed to be of Josephine at this time—best suits my image of her.

I will be meeting with curators of Malmaison: I’ll ask them what they think.

6 Comments

RxPhan on October 20, 2013 at 8:28 am

New to your blog but not new to your books. Your Josephine trilogy has been a favorite of mine for almost 20 yrs. I pull them out every 3 years or so just for the pleasure of rereading the. I became fascinated with Napoleon in grade school after reading a biography about him but in reading more detailed biographies in later years, became even more curious about Josephine. I have books and books on her-even those going back to about 1850. I have several favorite historical figures but she tops the list.

Sandra Gulland on October 20, 2013 at 9:41 am

This is the nicest comment ever! A rereader! And for 20 years! But what especially pleases is that you are such an ardent follower of the Napoleonic era. I am now in the process of gathering back my books on all things Napoleon. (Having been in the Court of the Sun King for over a decade.)

My focus, now, is Hortense and Caroline. One book I recently acquired is hard to find: MADAME CAMPAN; EDUCATOR OF WOMEN, CONFIDANT OF QUEENS. I found it to be well-written, a very good overview of the period. So much so, I’m tempted to ask the author if I could e-book publish it (to keep it in the world). If you can find it, and read it, let me know what you think.
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- RxPhan on October 20, 2013 at 10:08 am
  
  Just found it. Arriving in about 7 days. Will let you know.
  Reply
  - Sandra Gulland on October 20, 2013 at 10:09 am
    
    Awesome! I look forward to your thoughts …
    Reply

Michelle_cantliff on August 19, 2011 at 10:11 pm

i would like to see a portrait of the REAL Josephine as i have heard the court painters were kind to her and portrayed her as looking younger than she really was. As she was a lady who had undergone great trials and tribulations in her life it would be nice to see the true depiction of her face.

Sandra Gulland on August 20, 2011 at 2:41 pm

Michelle, I agree. If only!

Here is one portrait of her I especially like, because it is unfinished. It shows how sad she was after the divorce:

http://www.worldgallery.co.uk/giclee-print/Empress-Josephine-354008.html
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