An historical family drama based on the true life of Italian artist Artemisia Gentileschi, and what a life it was. The story starts in Rome in 1599 when 6 year old Artemisia is taken by her artist father Orazio and his friend Merisi (Caravaggio) to watch a public execution. Fast forward and 12 years later Artemisia is an accomplished artist helping her father with his work. The treatment of women at this time was appalling, but most shocking for me was how Artemisia was treated by the courts, it’s beyond comprehension. I don’t want to give spoilers for anyone who isn’t aware of this artists life but there are instances of brutal execution, torture and rape, all of which are fairly graphic but are important to the story.

Briefly, Artemisia’s father is jealous of her talent as an artist and does all he can to keep her down. Following her mothers death in childbirth she is the only woman in the family, with three brothers. A married woman Zita lives with the family with her children whilst her husband is working away. Despite her own ambitions Artemisia is aware of her obligations to her family but her father goes too far…

The author has clearly done in depth research and it shows. Although some names have been changed this is virtually a memoir, I felt as though Artemisia could have written it herself. It’s so beautifully descriptive I was immersed in 17th century Italy from start to finish. The main characters are all fully fleshed, warts and all. This was a wonderful evocative read, I loved all the descriptions of the art but it was the strength of this amazing woman that will stay with me.

I have a love-hate relationship with Artemisia Gentileschi as Anna Banti's Artemisia, the first historical novel written about this relevant woman, and I admired her but I'm not a fan of her pictures so intense and disturbing.
I was curious about this book because it was going to be a fresh look at one of the first women painter and one who is famous for bringing to trial the man who raped her.
It's a well written and compelling story, well researched and intriguing.
My only note is that the real Artemisia was more nuanced, less of a feminist heroine and more of a clever woman who was able to achieve fame in a male only field.
Her trial belong to the history, her goals are the sign a of bright and brilliant woman.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

This was a gut-wrenching, vulnerable and searing read that I found incredibly hard to read at times. The characterisation was brilliant, particularly around Artemisia with her talent, her drive and determination that is shattered by a horrific, violent act.

— 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 —

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: Disobedient
𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬: N/A
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫(𝐬): Elizabeth Fremantle
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: Feminist Historical Fiction
𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝: 27th July 2023
𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝: 24th June 2023
𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: 4.5/5

”‘I should never have given you such a loose rein. I have created a ‒ a –’ He is unable to spit it out.
‘What have you created?’ She is strangely calm. ‘A monster? Is that what you were going to say? No, Father, all you have created is a woman with a mind of her own. Perhaps that seems monstrous to you.’”

This book is going to stay with me for a long time. I was wholly transported to 1611 Rome and delivered in the midst of a family of painters, none more talented than the young female of the family, Artemisia Gentileschi.

I did not think I was interested in art history until I read this book. And now I’m craving a museum or gallery. The lush depictions of baroque art were incredibly vivid and provocative.

There was a rough and ready vibe to the main character and this transcended into her art in a more amplified manner. Artemisia seeks to paint the truth in its more sincere form, whether that truth is amenable to society is a different matter. As the author unravels the story of her early life and the trauma that occurs to her, I could see that her paintings evolve and could be described as violent, unflinching demonstrations of male debasement.

Which makes the feminist element in this book so strong and forceful. Fremantle writes with a ferocious prose, resulting in a downtrodden yet defiant main character and plot. The plot is based on the real and significant happenings in Artemisia Gentileschi’s life and provoked very strong emotions from me.

The feminist element is strong and forceful in this book, downtrodden yet defiant
Artemisia Gentileschi’s life and Fremantle’s interpretation of this feel congruent, heart clenching, and gut wrenching.

—Kayleigh🤍
@ Welsh Book Fairy🧚‍♀️✨

Disobedient is a compelling historical novel based on the early life of Artemisia Gentileschi.

Artemisia is an engaging heroine, ambitious, unapologetic and proud of her talents. She is a strong survivor, and sometimes it is difficult to separate her personality from her archetype. Zita and Orazio are more vividly drawn: both irredeemably flawed and yet there is something sympathetic about their complexity.

I loved the way Fremantle ties Gentileschi's art into her life, capturing the raw emotion of her paintings on the page. It really brought the world of renaissance art to life for me, imaginging how an artist might transcribe their personal passions into what seem to be straightforward biblical scenes.

Fremantle is an evocative, emotive storyteller, and Disobedient is a vivid reimaginging of an incredible woman.

A story I knew nothing about - which was part of the reason I requested it in the first place - completely caught my attention from page 1. The detail is so high that you feel like you are with our main character every step of the way.

Firstly I would like to thank netgalley, and Michael Joseph Penguin Random House, and the wonderful author E.C.Fremantle..

I've read two other books from this author in her Tudor series, Queen Gambit, and Sister of treason both are 5*reviews,and still to read book three in the series. This book is set in Rome the amount of details transports you into that time in history. Artemisia wants to become an artist but she lives in a mans world,which includes her father following rules,..something horrible happens to her that changes her life a fantastic historical read..highly recommend her books.


This book will be reviewed on goodreads, and Amazon UK.

I’ve never made a secret of my antipathy toward e-reading and kindle reading. Sometimes I have to use devices for reading to meet a deadline, but it’s with reluctance. However, when you’re desperate to read the latest book by one of your favourite writers, which won’t be published for a few months, and there is an opportunity to download it on Net Galley. It becomes a no brainer!! I love Elizabeth Fremantle’s books so much I was prepared to read it digitally rather than wait for my physical copy.
Disobedience is the story of Artemisia Gentileschi, the baroque painter, seemingly “rediscovered“ of late. The National Gallery had an exhibition of her work which was in the middle of lockdown, so I couldn’t behold her works physically, but the National Gallery did do a zoom lecture on her, which I took advantage of. And somehow, in my ageing, illogical brain, reading a digital copy of this book, seemed in harmony with my digital viewing of the exhibition.

Something that I admire so much in Ms Fremantle’s work is her ability to create the most palpable scenarios right from the off. There’s no need to “get into“ the book, you’re there from the first word. It’s as if you’re immediately enveloped into 17th century Rome, the lifestyle and habits these artists. Is that the mark of impeccable research, skilful writing or a fusion of both. I’ve experienced it in all her books. And for the duration of your read, you’re there in that very world as if you were born to it.

Artemisia is an artist, and also a woman subject to the societal codes and dogmas of her time. Chaperones and marriage, limited choices. Strong and brave is the woman who opposes. Artemisia is ambitious, certainly, in terms of her art and the vision she has of what her art can do. This story revolves around a certain period in the painter’s life. It’s not seeking to tell us her whole history, but it’s showing how one individual deals with a set of circumstances that would surely crush a lesser person. Many readers may well be familiar with Gentileschi’s story I don’t want to spoil it for those who don’t. What I’d like to focus on is how well the story is told. This writer has an uncanny knack of seeing into the hearts and souls of the characters she writes about. And that’s more than impeccable research. It demonstrates such a feel for the period and people about which she’s writing. The characterisations are superb. From the artist’s father, Orazio, to Zita, her chaperone and model, these characters are so fully formed they leap off the page at you And you believe. I think that in historical fiction to believe in the characters is so vital for the history to come alive. And it does come alive here. The narrative is superb. The pacing is so well balanced. The plot is so satisfyingly crafted that there’s almost a sigh of relief at the book’s conclusion. Not because you’ve finished the book, but because Artemesia has stayed true to herself, and not been cowed, or capitulated to other people. You want to raise a fist in celebration at her triumph.

The facts of her story could be read in some kind of biographical account of her life. But you wouldn’t get the same frisson or the same sense that you are there with her. With this story, you can almost smell the paint, feel the injustice. This book brings Artemisia Gentileschi to life.

My thanks to Net Galley for a digital copy.

I knew the bare bones of Artemisia Gentileschi’s story, and the barriers she faced as a female painter in Renaissance Italy. However, I did not realise quite what she had to go through to fulfil her destiny as a visionary artist.

Cabined and confined at ever turn, even before the life-changing event at the core of the novel, as a motherless young woman, she has to bear petty restrictions in order to keep her reptation and the family name unsullied. In her yearning for life, she battles the constraints of the duenna appointed by her father. Painting a naked figure, even that of a woman, is off limits. Will her career be limited to flattering portraits of the wives and daughters of the mercantile class?

It is hard to believe that this novel has not been written by a professional artist, one with a deep understanding of the necessary tools and techniques, and the creative process. Without displaying her research for its own sake, Elizabeth Fremantle creates a whole world. Rome, its art and its architecture, its strict class demarcations, its poverty contrasted with a corrupt, even debauched, church, are all vividly brought to life.

It is a story peopled by artists and their hangers on, professional rivals jostling for patronage and scrabbling for fame. At the personal level, Artemisia’s family, the rapist Tassi, Piero the apprentice, and Zita the flawed model are all fully fledged and credible characters. We become invested in what happens to them, rooting for her brother Francesco to face up to their bullying father Orazio.

From the opening chapter, with the execution of Beatrice Cenci for the murder of her abusive father, we know that this will be a sombre tale. Yet it is also suffused with colour, light and discussions about them. There is also much humour in Artemisia’s sidestepping of matrimony.

As its probably obvious, I loved it!

Just one tiny gripe: why are so many modern novels written in the present?

N.B. I will happily post this review on Amazon once reviewing opens.

Disobedient by Elizabeth Fremantle 🦩

Very excitingly this is my first ever @netgalley book so thank you to them and the publishers for accepting my request.

After a whirlwind of mythological retellings it was a pleasure to read this fictional retelling of Artemisia Gentileschi the Italian Baroque painter. The story was smoothly told if a little detached in places but I loved seeing Artemisia’s world through her artists eyes and mind. Great for fans of Clytemnestra, Circe and any feminist stories and I think it would be particularly loved by anyone who enjoyed the Waterstones Book of the Year 2022 The Story of Art Without Men. I rated this book 3.75 stars out of five over on StoryGraph and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys feminist historical books about culture, politics, truth and the intricacies of the world outside of the male point of view.

I have been interested in the paintings of Artemisia Gentileschi for a long time and knew her story so I was little doubtful about a fiction version of her life. But Elizabeth Fremantle has written an excellent book. Few writers manage to portray the art of painting effectively but she manages it very well although I was still thankful for Google which made it possible for me to look at them while I read.

Her evocation of the surroundings in which Artemisia lived - the constraints of both her physical surroundings and the social norms - is very vivid and often horrifying.

The book's afterword explains the author's personal reasons for writing the book, and the extent to which she has fictionalised the history ,which is helpful for the reader - I wish more writers in this genre did the same.

My only real quibble is that I would have liked to read more about Artemisia's subsequent life and her later achievements which were significant.

Thanks to Netgalley and Michael Joseph/ Penguin Random House for the ARC.