Laurel Corona | Forbidden Love?
March 5, 2014
The people of medieval Europe sometimes seem as if they are from another planet,
their world view is so radically different from our own. How could people have
had such blind faith, asked so few questions, expected so little of life, been
satisfied with only the hope of heaven? It's hard to imagine writing a compelling story populated only by docile,
unimaginative people, and I am happy to report it is completely unnecessary to
try. However valid the above generalizations may be, there was enough
independence of thought and action in the Middle Ages to provide fertile ground
for historical novelists. Vicki Leon has done a great service by compiling hundreds of profiles of "Uppity
Women" for her series by that name. Although the protagonist of my new novel, THE MAPMAKER'S DAUGHTER
(Sourcebooks, March 2014) is not one of Leon's heroines because she is my
invention, knowing that such women existed gave me a greater degree of license
to create a woman who was doing more than stereotypical things like cooking
gruel, making crone-like remarks, darning old socks, and dying in childbirth. Jewish matriarch Amalia Cresques makes many courageous choices during the course
of her long life, decisions she recounts in the novel while waiting for the ship
that will take her into exile after Ferdinand and Isabella's 1492 decree
expelling all the Jews from Spain. These decisions include engaging in a long
and passionate affair with a Muslim man, a development I imagine is likely to
raise questions among readers about its plausibility. Readers of historical fiction sometime comment that the heroines seem "too
modern." They say, think, and do things that don't seem likely within the
constraints of their times. I can't speak for every novel, but I can say
emphatically that before I write anything questionable I have done my research,
and nothing happens in my novels that was not possible in its time. Nothing in
Muslim or Jewish law prohibited a relationship between Jamil (a Muslim) and
Amalia (a Jew). Though eyebrows would undoubtedly be raised within the Jewish
community, Amalia's specific circumstances (sorry, no spoilers!) make her
decision entirely within the realm of possibility. Women deny our real history when we buy into the idea that our lives, until
recently, were inevitably nasty, brutish and short. We should believe in our
long buried sisters more than that. Amalia and Jamil are soul mates, and we all know we don't choose who to love.
They foster the poetry and passion in each other, and of course, as in all
relationships, the pain as well. I wanted to write a great love story, but more
than that I wanted to portray the hope and potential that comes from being open
to life, and not ruling out what will bring us fulfillment because others may
disapprove. Perhaps most of all, I want to believe there were many Amalias
doing just that among the forgotten women of history. My novels are written to
honor them. About Laurel CoronaLaurel Corona is the
author of three historical novels, including FINDING EMILIE (Gallery
Books, 2011), which won the 2012 Theodore S. Geisel Award for Book of the Year,
San Diego Book Awards. She has taught at San Diego State University, the
University of California at San Diego, and San Diego City College, where she is
a professor of English and Humanities. Corona is a member of the Brandeis National Committee, the National Council of
Jewish Women, and Hadassah. She has written over a dozen nonfiction Young Adult
books for school library programs, primarily on Jewish topics. She lives in San
Diego. Website Two commenters will win a copy of THE MAPMAKER'S DAUGHTER
A sweeping novel of 15th-century Spain explores the forgotten
women of the Spanish Inquisition In 1492, Amalia Riba sits in an empty room, waiting for soldiers to take her
away. A converso forced to hide her religion from the outside world, She
is the last in a long line of Jewish mapmakers, whose services to the court were
so valuable that their religion had been tolerated by Muslims and Christians alike. But times have changed. When King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella conquer Granada,
the last holdout of Muslim rule in Spain, they issue an order expelling all Jews
who refused to convert to Christianity. As Amalia looks back on her eventful
life, we witness history in the making—the bustling court of Henry the
Navigator, great discoveries in science and art, the fall of Muslim Granada, the
horrors of the Spanish Inquisition. And we watch as Amalia decides whether to
relinquish what's left of her true self, or risk her life preserving it. Exploring an under-published period in history, The Mapmaker's
Daughter is a sweeping saga of faith, family and identity that
shows how the past shapes our map of life.
Comments
17 comments posted.
Re: Laurel Corona | Forbidden Love?
I love the sound of your book! Thanks for making a giveaway for us :) (Kalynn Dresser 4:38pm March 1, 2014)
This sounds like an interesting story. I've never read a story in that time period. Thanks for the opportunity to win! (Kelly Powell 5:29pm March 2, 2014)
This sounds like a really interesting book! I would love to read it!! I'm definitely adding it to my TBR list! =) (Brandi Dagwan 6:53am March 5, 2014)
You took an interesting idea, and ran with it!! To take such a period of History, and bring it to life, is worth the read, and I'm ready to take that ride!! Congratulations on your book!! I can't wait to read it!! (Peggy Roberson 9:08am March 5, 2014)
The book sounds great. I LOVE historical novels. Best of luck with your book - and all you do. Thanks for the chance to win. (Nancy Reynolds 9:47am March 5, 2014)
I love the idea of stories about forgotten women. The books sound great. (Pam Howell 10:02am March 5, 2014)
This is an unusal subject that I wish to read about. (Todd Khader 11:35am March 5, 2014)
Your book sounds great. I really enjoy reading historical novels. (Kathy Morrison 11:42am March 5, 2014)
This story line sounds fresh and interesting! I love reading historic novels, especially those in the eras between the 13th and 16th centuries. Thanks for the giveaway and also for a book to look forward to reading. (Vennie Martinisi 3:40pm March 5, 2014)
Sounds like a very interesting book. (Denise Austin 3:53pm March 5, 2014)
oooh, a Spanish tale! (Richard Burr 9:29pm March 5, 2014)
Thank you for spending hours researching 15th century Spain & Jewish history to bring your readers a true-to-life love story.It is unlike any other book on the market. (Rachel Kerrinski 9:41pm March 5, 2014)
Great fan of historial novels. (Sheila True 10:58pm March 5, 2014)
The medieval age is a very strange and difficult period. But this is the age of discovery and to challenge religion. (Kai Wong 12:27pm March 6, 2014)
i'm starting to appreciate historical romance from a very short time, i never thought about reading this genre before and now i'm trying to read all that i can about it :) well to these readers i would have said. I can't write about a boring heroine that does everything precisely as instructed and never dares to change, maybe even a little what the society of that time wants from a woman. where would the plot come from, there will be no twists, no bad guy etc... Thank you very much for posting this giveaway (Sarah Hansrote 4:15am March 6, 2014)
An amazing idea for a story. (Mary Preston 5:59am March 7, 2014)
I don't think women deny their history, because they find strength in those who have gone before and made a difference. Stepping onto the path of those who bravely walked on new trails gives me goosebumps. I like reading about the history of how traditions started in many cultures and what we hold onto today. (Alyson Widen 5:23pm March 14, 2014)
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