Customer Reviews

Last Great Dance On Earth

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This is my all time favorite series!
A truly beautiful and sad love story. I fell in love with Josephine and Napoleon in these 3 books and was heart broken by their tragic life/love story. I recommend this book (trilogy) to anyone who enjoys a classic love story as it is beautifully written, interesting and engaging. Guaranteed to make you cry.

The Last Great Dance on Earth, by Sandra Gulland (Third book of the Jospehine B. Trilogy)

...Josephine and Bonaparte have just gotten married...

I'm often asked if it's possible to read this book without having read the previous two. First of all, the three volumes in the trilogy are a continuation of eachother. So, in order to appreciate the story in full, you need to read all three. Josephine's life takes such dramatic turns that it almost seems as though she lived three lives in one. Almost like three powerful novels culminating in The Last Great Dance on Earth. This one, I felt, was truly a touching and emotional read.

As the first two, the third volume is also written in diary form. In this book however, Sandra Gulland, develops the memoirs even further, without ever altering them. For me, this brought Josephine to life, closer than imaginable. From the beginning of this book, Gulland lures the reader further and further in, until you become totally captivated by Josephine's life.

It was impossible not to befriend Josephine. Her letters called out to me and I often thought myself to be her priveleged confidante. Gulland skilfully captures our emotions throughout these letters. This can be seen in: Josephine's unsuccessful and painful ordeals to have Napoleon's baby; Bonaparte's family's disdain for her as well as their scheming plans to rid themselves of her; Josephine's loneliness; Her pain and humiliation while enduring Bonaparte's affairs; Her resilience, sacrifice and surrender for the name of love and a greater purpose'and more.

I was able to feel Josephine's emotions throughout the book. At certain points, I even became angry at her for accepting Napoleon's affairs; but this didn't last for long. Despite my views, somehow, I made exceptions for Josephine. I understood her reasons and also came to accept them. She understood Napoleon's greater purpose and all that it entailed. She understood that he was a man like no other, 'Je le veux'- and he conquered. Her voice, feelings and motives came through clearly throughout this historical novel. Very often, I become teary-eyed when reading about the lives of historical figures- but with Josephine, I caught myself sobbing'several times (as though I'd learned about this for the first time). Josephine's love, tenderness, understanding and total devotion to Napoleon, her man, came first, above all else.

Besides her great love for Napoleon, Josephine's tremendous love for her children is constant throughout the book. The detail in portraying Josephine as a caring and encouraging mother who stood by her children in their every decision, made her all the more endearing to me. The way Josephine cared for Hortense through her painful family tragedy and marital problems - Her willingness to take care of her grandchildren when Hortense needed her most- her children could always depend on her to be there.

Eugene and Hortense's letters to her are filled with caring words that reveal love and concern. There is a clear sense of their close and loving relationship in the way they all interact with eachother. They are together and united in every decision, regardless of their own personal feelings; the Divorce being a perfect example of this, as well as, their unity in accepting and welcoming Bonaparte's decision to marry Marie Louise.

These unbelievably difficult situations which must have required an enormous sense of loyalty, love and acceptance, continuously surface the story to emphasize the passionate life that Josephine lived. And in the end, Eugene's touching letter announcing the death of his beloved mother to Bonaparte, addressed: Sire, Emperor (Papa), completely moved me to tears. I know it's history, and I've read this all before; Even so, The Last Great Dance on Earth is now forever sealed within my heart.

Up until her death, Josephine only wanted what was best for her Bonaparte, the man who 'had inspired her to believe once again in heroes, in destiny, but above all in the miracle of love'. p.4

Passionate times, beautiful details, sorrowful moments, love beyond boundaries- Bringing history to life, The Last Great Dance on Earth is an exceptional book.

[...].

The Last Great Dance On Earth is the 3rd book in this amazing look at the life of Josephine Bonaparte, although this book is a great read on it's own, I would recommend reading them in order (The many lives and secert sorrows of Josephine B. and Tales of Passion, Tales of woe). Josephine Bonaparte was a figure I really had no prior knowledge of, but I found my self riveted with the accounts of her life. This book details the rise to power and eventual fall of Nepoleon told from the perspective of Josephine. You really got a sense of the love that they shared, and the heartbreak of having to put the needs of an empire ahead of their own. Josephine's heartbreak leading upto, not to mention after her divorce from Nepoleon was so well written by Sandra Gulland, I found my own heart breaking for her. I don't think I have ever been as touched by a characters pain, as I was with Josephine. It is one of those books that captivates you from start to finish!!! I was sad to have it end!

While this book stands out on it's own merits, you would be doing yourself a huge disservice if you didn't read the first two books in the trilogy first ('The Many Lives and Secret Sorrows of Josephine B.' and 'Tales of Passion, Tales of Woe'). This is probably my favorite group of books and everyone I have let borrow them feels the same. All are well-written and easy reading (as well as interesting history). I am only sorry that Sandra Gulland hasn't written any other books...yet. I keep hoping.

The Last Great Dance on Earth is a novel that allows you to gain a better understanding of the reign of Empress Josephine while being extreamly enjoyable. The last book, in the trilogy, follows through to the beginning of Bonaparte as First Counsel to his exhile to Elba through the eyes of Josephine.During this novel you join Josephine for the last 14 years of her life from the highs of royalty and the lows of not being able to produce a heir to the throne.This is a novel that has opened the world of history to me and now i no longer see it as a bore, but more as an interest. I recommend this novel to anyone who loves a classic love story as it will be sure to bring a tear.

In this third book in the series, the whole tragedy of Josephine's life unfolds. First she goes through her husband's meteorite rise to power and is moved from a big Palace to an even bigger one. She is forced to hire more than thirty people to work for her and becomes, step by step, a queen. Until she is crowned empress of France. Her prediction is fulfilled but she also remember the old voodoo woman said it would be for a short time...

She also acquires what will be her most loved house: Malmaison where she will spend her last days.

As we know, in the end Bonaparte divorces Josephine because as emperor he must have an heir and she is incapable on having any more children. So she has to leave him when she loves him the most and suffers his losses in war. At the end, she dies not being able to see him but knowing he has been vanished to Elba.

Once again, a great book.

This book wrapped up the story of Napoleon & Josephine very well. I found myself truly caring what happened to this couple. The only drawback was the fact that the author didn't go into Josephine's life toward the end--the book just ended and then there was a postscript. I would highly recommend the entire series.

The last in the trilogy based on the life of Josephine, wife of Napolean, humanizes this historical love affair. I actually found this volume before reading the others, but have now bought the trilogy, since the style and quality is so fluid and easy to read.

Josephine's point of view is certainly compassionate in regard to Bonaparte, as well as forgiving. The book consists of her journal entries describing the success and coronation of the couple as Emperor and Empress of France. What has begun as a "people's revolution", gradually takes the form of a benign monarchy as Napolean models his court after other royal courts, albeit Kings and Queens. The attendant corruption is not surprising, as the struggle for power changes hands with flattery and deceit.

In Napolean's mind "blood is all", and the extensive and greedy Napolean clan take full advantage, while Josephine is unable to bear a royal successor. There is unremitting intrigue in the court until Josephine agrees to step aside in order that Napolean may divorce her and re-marry, in hopes of fathering a son. While there is no question that this diary is written with a bias towards Josephine's defense, the scenes are well-written, dramatic and intense. I seldom read novels in a diary format, but found this engaging and informative.

I loved this book! All three of the "Josephine trilogy" are excellent. I learned more about Napoleon and Josephine, and indeed, the French Revolution, than I ever dreamed possible and it was all done in an exciting and very readable way. Bring on more my Sandra Gulland.

How does Sandra Gulland do it? This well-researched, well-written trilogy will score her legions of fans everywhere. The history was presented in an interesting interpretation through the eyes of a historical character often ignored....Thank you, Sandra Gulland, for writing these books!