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Napoleon and Joesphine Gerald and Loretta Hausman Scholastic, Inc. © 2004 |
The book Napoleon and Josephine is about a young girl named Marie-Josephe Rose Tascher de La Pagerie born in Martinique, French West Indies on June 23, 1763. She had 2 other sisters, Catherine and Manette. She also had a father who was named Joseph de Tascher who one day received a letter from his sister Adm’ee telling him that Alexander de Beauharnais was seeking a wife and if one of Joseph’s daughters married Alexander, they would receive his inheritance. Thinking of all his children and their ages, he came to the conclusion that Catherine would be the best choice for Alexander. But unfortunately, Catherine died due to a horrible fever. So now it was just down to Rose and Manette. Since Manette was too young, still just a child, Rose had to be the choice. Alexander was 17 and he wanted a wife who was not too close in age but not too young, that was why Catherine was the choice and Rose was second. About 3 months later, Rose went to Paris, France, to meet Alexander and get married. So they finally got married and bought a house but Alexander was a very unfaithful husband. He was always out and very rarely was he home.
On September 3, 1781, Rose and Alexander had their first son, Euge’ne. On April 10, 1783, Rose had her second child, Hortense, and Alexander still was unfaithful. So on March 5, 1785, Rose and Alexander separated. Rose and her 2 children stayed in Pentemont which was a convent in Paris. On March 2, 1794, Alexander was arrested and imprisoned in Les Carmes. Then on April 20, 1794, Rose was also arrested and imprisoned in Les Carmes. On July 23, 1794, Alexander is beheaded. After being in the prison for 4 months, Rose is released. Then once again, Rose moved back to Paris and in September 1795 Rose meets Napoleon and their relationship begins. On March 9, 1796, Rose changes her name to Josephine and they marry. Josephine was happy in the marriage but Napoleon was always away in battle. On December 2, 1804, Napoleon and Josephine are crowned the Emperor and Empress of France. On December 15, 1809, Napoleon and Josephine are divorced. After the divorce, Josephine retires to Chateau de Navarre at Evereaux and Malmaison. On April 2, 1810, Napoleon marries Marie-Louise and on March 20, 1811, Napoleon’s son, Napoleon Francis is born. On May 29, 1814, Josephine dies at Malmaison. On May 5, 1821, Napoleon dies in St. Helena.
I liked the book Napoleon and Josephine because it was very believable, very informational and it was also interesting to read. The main problems in the book started with Rose’s first marriage to Alexander who was very unfaithful. Another problem was when Rose was imprisoned in Les Carmes and when Napoleon and Josephine divorced. My favorite character in the book was Rose (Josephine). I especially like her because she fought through the ups and downs of her life and got through it all. The character I did not like was Napoleon. I did not like him because he forced Rose into marriage. I thought the book Napoleon and Josephine was very interesting.
~ Alyssa Clark, grade 5, George Washington Intermediate School