BIBLIOGRAPHY
There are very few books on Joséphine, either in French or in English. Little is known about her early years, and after her marriage to Napoleon, her career is so identified with that of her husband that most of the information regarding her is to be found in the numerous biographies, histories and memoirs devoted to the life of the Emperor.
Aubenas, J. A., Histoire de l’impératrice Joséphine, Paris, 1858–1859. 2 vols. An excellent history, written by one who had made a careful examination of all the material then available, both in France and in Martinique, and whom we may call the official biographer of Joséphine. He alone had access to the archives of the Tascher family, and to him we owe most of our knowledge of the first fifteen years of her existence.
Hall, H. F., Napoleon’s Letters to Joséphine, (1796–1812). Trans. 1903.
Le Normand, M. A., Mémoires historiques et secrets de Joséphine, Paris, 1820. 2 vols. These so-called “mémoires,” falsely attributed to Joséphine herself, were published four years after her death. Napoleon was then in exile; his enemies were in power again; and this book was intended as a propitiatory offering to royalty. The author was an unprincipled, unscrupulous woman, Mlle. Le Normand, who was a professional fortune-teller of Paris. The book is as untrustworthy as the Mémoires of Barras.
Lettres de Napoléon à Joséphine, Paris, 1833. 2 vols. These volumes contain the letters of Napoleon to Joséphine from 1796 to 1813, also the letters from Joséphine to her daughter from 1794 to 1814. The publication of this correspondence was authorized by Queen Hortense, who had the letters in her possession. These letters are of extreme interest, as they reveal the innermost thoughts of the Emperor, and throw a strong side-light on his character, as well as on that of Joséphine.
Masson, F., Joséphine, Paris, 1899–1902. 3 vols. Also Napoléon et sa famille. Paris, 1896–1919. 13 vols. Masson was the greatest authority upon the history of the Emperor and his family. His works are remarkable for the abundance of their intimate details and the exactitude of their documentation.
Ober, Frederick A., Joséphine, Empress of the French, New York, 1895. A popular English biography, based on the French history of M. Aubenas. The author seems to be familiar with Martinique, and gives many intimate details of Joséphine’s early life.
Saint-Amand, Imbert de, Joséphine, Paris, 1887. 5 vols. Published under different titles. The author presents Joséphine in the most favorable light, and at the same time displays great admiration for the Emperor.
Sergeant, Philip W., The Empress Joséphine, London, 1908. 2 vols. The best English biography: well written, accurate, and very fair in its treatment both of Joséphine and Napoleon.
Turquan, Joseph, L’Impératrice Joséphine, Paris, 1895–1896. 2 vols. The first volume, entitled La générale Bonaparte, covers the period from Vendémiaire to the end of the Consulate; the second, the Empire and the years subsequent to the divorce. The author makes much of the early scandals in Joséphine’s life, and is very unfair in his presentation of the facts.
MEMOIRS
Avrillon, Mlle., Mémoires sur la vie privée de Joséphine, Paris, no date (about 1835). 2 vols. The author, who describes herself as “première femme de chambre de l’impératrice,” was with Joséphine from 1804 to 1814. While possessing no great historic value, these memoirs are interesting and readable.
Bourrienne, L. A. F. de, Mémoires, Paris, 1829–1831. 10 vols. Trans. London, 1893. 4 vols. Also new French edition, Paris, 1899–1900. 5 vols. A vivid, but untrustworthy picture of Napoleon and Joséphine. The stories of the author’s very close friendship are open to suspicion.
Junot, Laure (Duchesse d’Abrantès), Mémoires, Paris, 1833–1834. 18 vols. Trans. Very vivacious, but full of slanders and sarcasms in her portrayal of the Emperor and his wife. Not trustworthy.
Rémusat, Mme. de, Mémoires, Paris, 1879–1880. 3 vols. Also trans. She was a dame du palais of Joséphine, and her memoirs give a very vivid description of the Consular and Imperial Courts. The original manuscript was burnt during the Hundred Days, as the author feared that her attacks on Napoleon might get her into trouble. The memoirs which we have now were written in 1818, and show a desire to gain favor with the Royalists.