The Girl in the Glass Tower
Historical fiction was one of the first genres I truly fell in love with. Fairy tales stuck with me from my childhood, but as I dipped my toe into different genres, that special mix of history and fiction captured my attention at the ripe age of fourteen. Since then, I have read many historical fiction books but Elizabeth Fremantle’s The Girl in the Glass Tower was the first I ever read about the Lady Arbella. Before stumbling upon this book, I didn’t even know who Arbella was. Through Fremantle’s spellbinding text, I have found a kindred spirit in Arbella and I think many other women would find pieces of themselves in this determined young lady.
Although centuries separate myself from Arbella, I believe she and I would have been good friends if we were to have met during the reign of King James I. Cursed with royal blood that set her apart from other ladies, Arbella learned to enjoy the company of a good book and animals, specifically her horse, Dorcus. Fremantle perfectly describes Arbella’s desire not only for friendship, but also acceptance from an English court that views her as an oddity.
Arbella’s life is a sheltered existence thanks to her controlling grandmother who has kept her out of the public eye for fear people would attempt to use her as the figurehead for rebellions. Mixed with her fear to end up as her cousins Jane and Katherine Grey, Arbella also expresses a mighty need for freedom. Her longing for a simple existence where she is free to make her own choices and lead her own life are impossible when her cousin Queen Elizabeth I dies and James I comes to the throne. Arbella gains a few inches, but she is still miles away from the life she believes she deserves to live.
The wish to follow one’s own path is something many women today can still relate to today. Kings and queens, or even our fathers/male heads of the family may not order us around in the same fashion, but society has shaped us to take directions in life we may not wish to. Whether that is as simple as which major to take in college, who we want to marry, or if we should have children – all these choices are made much more complicated by what others think we should do. If we don’t do what is expected of us, we’re seen as a strange creature that needs to be taught how to be a proper lady (or man).
Fremantle paints a compelling picture of a woman who fights her confinement every chance she can, but in the end, her story does not have a classic happy ending. As in life, there are no guarantees about how our story ends, but through Lady Arbella’s story, we learn to hold onto hope and keep fighting, no matter what.
Overall, Fremantle’s The Girl in the Glass Tower is a fascinating piece of historical fiction and I am eager to read more books by her.
The Girl in the Glass Tower Rating: ★★★★
Although centuries separate myself from Arbella, I believe she and I would have been good friends if we were to have met during the reign of King James I. Cursed with royal blood that set her apart from other ladies, Arbella learned to enjoy the company of a good book and animals, specifically her horse, Dorcus. Fremantle perfectly describes Arbella’s desire not only for friendship, but also acceptance from an English court that views her as an oddity.
Arbella’s life is a sheltered existence thanks to her controlling grandmother who has kept her out of the public eye for fear people would attempt to use her as the figurehead for rebellions. Mixed with her fear to end up as her cousins Jane and Katherine Grey, Arbella also expresses a mighty need for freedom. Her longing for a simple existence where she is free to make her own choices and lead her own life are impossible when her cousin Queen Elizabeth I dies and James I comes to the throne. Arbella gains a few inches, but she is still miles away from the life she believes she deserves to live.
The wish to follow one’s own path is something many women today can still relate to today. Kings and queens, or even our fathers/male heads of the family may not order us around in the same fashion, but society has shaped us to take directions in life we may not wish to. Whether that is as simple as which major to take in college, who we want to marry, or if we should have children – all these choices are made much more complicated by what others think we should do. If we don’t do what is expected of us, we’re seen as a strange creature that needs to be taught how to be a proper lady (or man).
Fremantle paints a compelling picture of a woman who fights her confinement every chance she can, but in the end, her story does not have a classic happy ending. As in life, there are no guarantees about how our story ends, but through Lady Arbella’s story, we learn to hold onto hope and keep fighting, no matter what.
Overall, Fremantle’s The Girl in the Glass Tower is a fascinating piece of historical fiction and I am eager to read more books by her.
The Girl in the Glass Tower Rating: ★★★★