As I mentioned in the Author’s Note in BECOMING JOSEPHINE, I tweaked certain details of Josephine’s history to preserve momentum, themes of growth and renewal, and also to bring certain aspects of her character to light. At times I omitted a character as they added little to the story, or perhaps I added to a real life event to bring the moment alive for readers. Here is my list of changes below:
- Catherine Tascher died, at the age of twelve, in 1777, two years before Rose finally set sail for France.
- Rose had a mostly carefree life as a child in Martinique and was loved by both her parents, though she was raised primarily by a beloved nanny. Her father, Gaspard Tascher, was often absent due to his vices: women, drink, and gambling, as well as the resulting quarrels that ensued with Rose’s mother.
- Rose’s father and aunt Rosette escorted her to France. Gaspard became extremely ill during the voyage, however, and missed Rose’s wedding. After a year of recovery, he was able to return to Martinique along with aunt Rosette. Their presence in France added little to Rose’s personal story—she was so bereft of friends and people her own age despite their presence in France—so I chose to leave them at home in Martinique.
- When Alexandre banished Rose from his house, she went to Panthémont, the convent, with Désirée’s help—she did not choose to leave on her own. Rose brought Eugène with her, but was forced to leave Hortense at the Beauharnais home with a wet nurse and Désirée for several months. As for the official separation, Rose filed and met with Louis Joron, a court adjudicator, at the convent. From there, she awaited news via post from the provost of Paris, who ultimately granted the separation and financial support she desired.
- Rose did not accompany her children and the Prince de Salm when they fled Paris to the country. She originally planned to join them later in the spring, so as not to draw attention to their leaving. The crew made it as far as Normandy and prepared to leave for England in the following two days. When Alexandre learned of the plan, he sent a convoy to demand their return.
- After Alexandre’s imprisonment, Rose returned to Paris from Croissy to lobby for his release, rather than for Marie de Beauharnais. Rose did petition on Marie’s behalf, however, and Marie was not released until roughly the same time as Rose.
- When soldiers arrived at Rose’s door to arrest her, they found nothing to accuse her of treason. The soldiers left that evening in April of 1794, only to return the following day on command from the Assembly. Rose was then jailed at Les Carmes prison along with Marie-Françoise Hosten, despite the lack of proof against her.
- Napoleon was not at the palace in Mombello, Italy, but away at war when Josephine first met the Bonapartes.
- Josephine’s letters illustrate that she did not fall in love with Napoleon in Italy, but rather after he returned from Egypt. When he threatened to leave her, she realized her deeper feelings for him, allegedly abandoned her lover Charles, and the couple’s relationship grew from that point forward.
- When Josephine’s convoy left Italy, Hippolyte Charles raced to meet her on the road, which was in part, the reason for her late arrival in Paris in December of 1797. Her adoring crowds also played a significant part in her tardiness.
- Napoleon paid Josephine’s debts, but not until some years into his reign.
- Lieutenant Hippolyte Charles is rumored to have been one of the great loves of Rose’s life, next to Hoche Lazare, and Napoleon, though the evidence to support this claim remains sketchy.
- Josephine supported Alexandre’s bastard child with Laure and at least one other such child, long before she was married to Napoleon. Still, Josephine did offer aid to Laure de Longpré as the novel suggests.