Want Great Historical Fiction? The Fight to Survive in the Novel, Isola

A chilling tale (literally) by Allegra Goodman

Photo by Benjamin Behre on Unsplash

The Power of Historical Fiction

Reading brings me joy in all its forms and all its genres, but I have to admit that Historical Fiction is probably my favorite. Storytelling is an art, and it’s elevated to the level of “great” when it’s based on truth, as in the case of Isola, a novel by Allegra Goodman.

Isola is inspired by the life of Marguerite de la Rocque de Roberval, a French noblewoman living in the mid-1500s. In two different places, her life is documented, so Goodman had actual accounts to base the story on. Without these records, Marguerite’s story might have been lost forever. Without these records, readers might believe that the tale is too “tall” to be believed.

Grateful to be living now when women have rights

No doubt, in today’s world, women don’t always receive the same pay as men, the same chances at leadership, or the same treatment as men, but we’ve come a long way. Reading Isola reminded me once again how lucky I am to be born in the 20th Century instead of the 16th Century!