Disobedient cover art

Disobedient

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Disobedient

By: Elizabeth Fremantle
Narrated by: Emma D'Arcy
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

I'll show you what a woman can do...

Rome 1611.

A jewel-bright place of change, with sumptuous new palaces and lavish wealth on display. A city where women are seen but not heard.

Artemisia Gentileschi dreams of becoming a great artist. Motherless, she grows up among a family of painters - men and boys. She knows she is more talented than her brothers, but she cannot choose her own future. She wants to experience the world, but she belongs to her father and will belong to a husband.

As Artemisia patiently goes from lesson to lesson, perfecting her craft, she also paints in private, recreating the women who inspire her, away from her father's eyes.

Until a mysterious tutor enters her life. Tassi is a dashing figure, handsome and worldly, and for a moment he represents everything that a life of freedom might offer. But then the unthinkable happens.

In the eyes of her family, Artemisia should accept her fate. In the eyes of the law, she is the villain.

But Artemisia is a survivor. And this is her story to tell.

©2023 E C Fremantle (P)2023 Penguin Audio Coming of Age Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Renaissance

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Critic reviews

I could not put this book down. Every woman - and man - should read it.
Shocking, gripping, Fremantle has crafted a tale that vividly evokes Baroque Italy
by portraying a strong, assertive women. Splendid! (ALISON WEIR)
A great female artist struggling for her voiceand for justice is brought to powerful life. Brilliantly researched, rich in detail, grippingly written, Disobedient is the novel Elizabeth Fremantle was born to write (ELIZABETH BUCHAN)
An exhilarating read. Through effervescent prose, Elizabeth Fremantle brings the story of artist Artemisia Gentieschi to life. Gripping, captivating, and consistently enlightening, Disobedient firmly places Gentileschi as one of the greatest female heroines in history (KATY HESSEL)
All stars
Most relevant  
This was a stunning portrayal of an incredible woman painter and the brutal, misogynistic world she lived in. I listened, rapt, full of rage much of the time. Quite uncomfortable listening in several places.

Visceral, moving tale of misogyny in 17th C Italy

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I loved all of it! The story is written from Atremisa’s point of view giving lost detail of her colour and thought process in constructing her paintings. Her life is full of tragic outcomes yet her strength to rise up above and bear the injustices is exhilarating. The narrator did this book great credit , I wish the story was four times as long!

Brilliant!!

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Wonderful story beautifully brought to life by narrator. Really visualised the ancient streets and the people.

Great listen.

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A great plot, brilliantly told. The injustice faced by women, and their power to overcome it, is depicted with great emotion but without sentiment. It’s great.

Brilliant storytelling

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I was drawn into the book from the first chapter I loved the subject matter and the ultimate triumph of the main character

Powerful story of bravery

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I knew of Artemisia but not the full story . How single minded and v’brave she was. The story is told sympathetically and read beautifully .
A would like to know more .

A story of courage

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Loved all the detail of the paint and descriptions of the paintings. There is much sadness and despair in this story. Women seem at first powerless then gain some ground only to be thwarted once more. It’s a hopeful story building on strong women and the weaknesses of the male.

Blood and gory.

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This is based on a true story which I only realised 2/3 through but really brings to Artemesia to life and prompted me to find out more about this wonderful painter and how she persevered and triumphed in an unambiguously patriarchal and religious society.

The story was fantastically portrayed by Emma D’Arcy, and I could wait to listen despite some of the traumatic aspects of the story which I wasn’t expecting.

Fantastic performance, captivating story

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True heroine. We should all know her story. I thoroughly recommend listening to this book

Shocking as always how women are written out of history. Fascinating to read how she succeeded against the odds

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A brilliantly written story beautifully read. The characters are convincingly brought to life and the story keeps you wanting to listen for more.

Totally gripping!

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