Rembrandt’s promise is an engrossing novel inspired by a true story. Geertje works as a maid looking after Rembrandt’s son, Titus. After the death of his wife she becomes Rembrandt’s mistress but when a new maid arrives the painter quickly tires of Geertje and she is told to leave. Geertje does not take this betrayal lightly and takes Rembrandt to court for breach of promise.
The novel is written beautifully and takes you to the Dutch Golden Age, highlighting the way women were so reliant on men whether they be employers, husbands, fathers or as in this case brothers. Working conditions and the parallel lives of those with and without money are brought to life. It is moving to see how Geertje deals with betrayals from both Rembrandt and her brother and how strong female characters such as her Aunt can still have influence even in such a male dominated world.
I very much enjoyed Barbara Leahy’s novel and would definitely recommend it

Loosely based on the true story of a widow called Geertje Dircx from Edam who at the behest of her brother Pieter gets a position in the house of painter Rembrandt Van Rijn and his wife Saskia as nursemaid to their son Titus. It’s 1642, the Dutch Golden Age, and life in Amsterdam is very different to Geertje’s married life. A new author for me and I did enjoy her writing.

Briefly, Geertje becomes close to Saskia who is in poor health which means Titus spend most of his time with Geertje. She is also friendly with the other maid and in time the cook, but Rembrandt seems distant. After Saskia’s death Geertje and Rembrandt become closer, and eventually she becomes his mistress. However, when a new maid Hendrickje is employed she soon catches Rembrandt’s eye. When she is told to leave Geertje isn’t prepared to taken her banishment sitting down and she turns to the law for justice.

The treatment of the staff in Rembrandt’s house, and women in general at this time, was pretty terrible. Rembrandt himself wasn’t a pleasant man, completely self centred although he clearly adored Saskia, and to some extent Geertje. But the person I most despised was Pieter and I felt like shouting at Geertje to open her eyes and see how he was using her. I loved Geertje’s aunt, what a wonderful woman. A dark and emotional historical novel and one I very much enjoyed.