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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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I have studied Artemisia Gentileschi and this was exceptional story of a powerful woman, research and narrator were excellent.

The best book I have ever read

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Narrator was excellent. Really brought all the characters to life. One really cares about Artemisia and her fate.

Remarkable story brilliantly told.

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The only thing I didn’t like was that this audio book was over so soon. Boldly told, empathetically written and beautifully read. I was there fighting for Artemisia every step of the way.

Brilliantly told fight for the rights of a woman

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Thoroughly enjoyed listening to this tale of life in 17th Century Italy. Not my normal pick, but was recommended and I’m glad I read the story of someone of whom I knew little. Would like to visit galleries now to see her work

A great story of a great talent

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Too much gruesome details at the start of the story made me disinclined to continue futher

Gruesome

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lovely story and captivating narrator. Emma's voice is so beautiful. loved it so much! (9h of Emma speaking...10/10)

Emma Darcy marry me

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This is a hard read but worth it at the end. Injustice and powerlessness in a young talented painter. The truth will out!

Powerful

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Great book and as an artist I appreciated the fabulous descriptions of paint, painting and passion. Excellently read too loved it

I didn’t want it to end

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