Disobedient: The gripping feminist retelling of a seventeenth century heroine forging her own destiny

Product Information

Jealousy, vengeance, and the male expectation of unchallenged dominance seek to thwart an artist’s aspirations and destroy her career and reputation, but she will prove to be stronger than they are.

In Fremantle’s version of the story, the women of the paintings are not merely things to be ogled at; their stories are told in translated interludes. Known for her strong character and exquisite - yet brutally honest - depiction of life through her art, Artemisia Gentileschi appears as alive in this novel as she does on the canvas. My PTSD was the worst it had ever been, and I couldn't sleep at night without some background noise and one of my parents for company. In this time when women are treated as second class citizens, she must stand by her beliefs and never give up. This book will stay with me for a long time, to remember Artemisia's courage in the face of her horrible trials and her triumphs.Fremantle has immense talent and tells the story of an amazing and inspiring woman with wit and certainty. Fremantle has immense talent and told the story of an amazing and inspiring woman beautifully, rendering her human in the best and worst moments alike. Fremantle describes the period when Artemisia lived in Rome before her marriage – and thus the period of her rape and trial. The 103 third parties who use cookies on this service do so for their purposes of displaying and measuring personalized ads, generating audience insights, and developing and improving products.

There was a rough and ready vibe to the main character and this transcended into her art in a more amplified manner.

Her licence is taken with the facts to embroider personalities on the characters and Artemisia is depicted as someone who actively doesn't want to marry. It’s as if you’re immediately enveloped into 17th century Rome, the lifestyle and habits these artists. The feminist element is strong and forceful in this book, downtrodden yet defiant Artemisia Gentileschi’s life and Fremantle’s interpretation of this feels congruent, heart clenching, and gut wrenching. DISOBEDIENT tells the powerful story of Artemisia Gentileschi, the most celebrated female painter of the seventeenth century.

I love Elizabeth Fremantle’s books so much I was prepared to read it digitally rather than wait for my physical copy. Another great novel that didn’t disappoint and I’m already eagerly looking forward to Fremantle’s next book. The language of the novel is beautiful, focusing a lot on the language of colour and observation, as you would expect from a story about an artist. It belittles her father Orazio and is entirely incorrect on the way that the culture surrounding painting in Baroque Italy operated.

I do enjoy a story that dusts off an important female figure from history to shine the light in our contemporary world. Disobedience is the story of Artemisia Gentileschi, the baroque painter, seemingly “rediscovered“ of late. Elizabeth Fremantle homes in on the infamous rape case that tarnished Artemisia’s adolescence even as it ultimately freed her to become one of the most accomplished artists of her era. Perfecting her craft takes time, and one day a mysterious and handsome painting tutor decides to help her hone her skills. I could tell you that it feels like a written record of a woman who's life was previously most accessible through the paintings she left behind.

Historical fiction with the pull of a psychological thriller -- Anna Mazzola --This text refers to the hardcover edition. A consistently gripping, emotional and unforgiving retelling giving Artemisia the voice she so deserves. I’m interested to read A Portrait in Shadow, another Artemesia novel that interestingly came out this year, to see if that resonates with me more. The festive holidays are the perfect time to escape the cold, cosy up with a hot drink and lose yourself in a new book. Not only does Elizabeth Fremantle’s Disobedience give flesh and bones to Artemesia and her family but her writing pulls you into the era to experience life too.Sinds ik een aantal jaar geleden Susan Vreeland's boek over Artemisia las, vind ik zowel haar levensverhaal als haar werk fascinerend. But from the brutal rape sprung her most renowned paintings, full of unflinching violence and passion.