Josephine's Garden

Description

'Stephanie Parkyn is one very talented storyteller.' -Mrs B's Book Reviews '...impressed by Parkyn's imaginative ambition. She takes Napoleon's wife, the Empress Josephine, and intertwines her struggles to provide the Emperor with an heir, with those of two other women... The novel is rich in detail, particularly of horticulture and has a strong storyline. A perfect escape without ever leaving our shores.' Waikato Times France, 1794. In the aftermath of the bloody end to the French Revolution, Rose de Beauharnais stumbles from prison on the day she is to be guillotined. Within a decade, she'll transform into the scandalous socialite who marries Napoleon Bonaparte, become Empress Josephine of France and build a garden of wonders with plants and animals she gathers from across the globe. But she must give Bonaparte an heir or she risks losing everything. Two other women from very different spheres are tied to the fate of the Empress Josephine - Marthe Desfriches and Anne Serreaux. Their lives are put at risk as they each face confronting obstacles in their relationships and in their desire to become mothers. From the author of Into the World comes a richly imagined historical novel about obsession, courage, love and marriage. 'Enthralling novel, rich in historical detail ... Highly recommended.' -Good Reading on Into the World

Stephanie Parkyn's first novel, Into the World, was published to wide acclaim in 2017. Stephanie always wanted to write fiction, growing up in a book-loving family in Christchurch, New Zealand. She had a rewarding career as an environmental scientist, but is now living her dream of writing stories and travelling to find them. She is fascinated by the human motivations behind the events of history and is particularly drawn to illuminating women's stories. After enjoying ten years living and exploring in Australia, she now writes from her home in a bush-clad valley in Coromandel Peninsula, New Zealand. Josephine's Garden is her second novel.