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WINNER OF THE HWA GOLD CROWN AWARD 2024

I’ll show you what a woman can do . . .

‘I was swept away by lush, evocative prose. An unforgettable, moving and important story told with great skill and care’ JENNIFER SAINT

‘An exhilarating read. Gripping, captivating, and consistently enlightening’ KATY HESSEL

‘Outstanding. A powerful novel about women who are shamed and silenced, and how they learn to survive. A literary knockout’ ANNA MAZZOLA, author of The Clockwork Girl

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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. But her future is not her own – she belongs to her father and will belong to her husband.
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.
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‘An unputdownable story of revenge, ambition and how women overcome adversity. A heartbreaking and empowering read’ COSTANZA CASATI, author of Clytemnestra

‘An unforgettable book – visceral and lush and fierce. The last few pages left me gasping. An absolute triumph’ EVE CHASE

‘Brilliantly researched, rich in detail, grippingly written, Disobedient is the novel Elizabeth Fremantle was born to write’ ELIZABETH BUCHAN

‘I could not put this book down. Every woman – and man – should read it. Shocking, gripping, splendid!’ ALISON WEIR

‘Historical fiction at its absolute best’ GILL PAUL, author of The Secret Wife

‘The colourful, brutal world of Baroque Italy is superbly evoked in this gripping novel. The challenges faced by a dauntless woman in this man’s world leave a deep impression on the reader’ LINDA PORTER

Publisher Review

Magical, thrilling, wonderful, excellent. Heartpoundingly tense and absolutely engrossing. Clever, amazing and inspiring * Daily Mail * 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 Vivid, unflinching, justly furious. Fremantle’s best work * The Times, Historical Fiction of the Month * Dazzling. Taut, fast-paced, powerful and painterly as Artemisia’s canvases * Mail on Sunday * 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 A searing, gripping account of the early life of baroque prodigy Artemisia Gentileschi * Daily Mail * A WONDERFUL HERO: creative, passionate and true to herself * GOOD HOUSEKEEPING SUMMER READING * 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 You’ll be gripped by this fictionalised account of the life of the remarkable Italian Renaissance painter Artemisia Gentileschi. The author brings 17th-century Italy to life * Woman & Home * Artemisia’s life was extraordinary, and so is this book. I was swept away
by lush, evocative prose that transported me to a painter’s studio in Rome in the 1600s.
Through the eyes of a defiant and determined young woman, Fremantle weaves
Artemisia’s paintings into events, endowing Artemisia with the dignity, courage and honour she deserves. An unforgettable, moving and important story told with great skill and care — JENNIFER SAINT Outstanding. A powerful novel about women who are shamed and silenced, and how they learn to survive. A literary knockout — ANNA MAZZOLA An unforgettable book – visceral and lushand fierce. You root for Artemisia. Hurt with her. Roar with her. And you simply cannot look away. The last few pages left me gasping. An absolute triumph — EVE CHASE The colourful, brutal world of Baroque Italy is superbly evoked in this gripping novel of Artemisia Gentileschi, one of the era’s greatest artists. The challenges faced by a dauntless woman in this man’s world leave a deep impression on the reader — LINDA PORTER You’ll be gripped * Woman’s Weekly * If you don’t already know the story of 17th-century artist Artemisia Gentilleschi, I urge you not to google it but let this phenomenal novel describe her for you. If you already know what happened, let yourself be immersed in 17th-century Rome as the action unfolds in the hands of a master storyteller. The characters are nuanced and relatable; the writing is colourful and moreish; the pace and plotting are pitch perfect. She is a writer at the top of her game, and this is historical fiction at its absolute best. — GILL PAUL, author of THE SECRET WIFE Just finished reading this gem – an unputdownable story of revenge, ambition, and how women overcome adversity. A heartbreaking and empowering read that places Artemisia as one of the greatest painters in history — COSTANZA CASATI, author of CLYTEMNESTRA To produce the best work a writer must “dig deep”‘ In Disobedient, Elizabeth Fremantle pierces the reader’s soul, drawing tears, blood, and rage for the injustices and pain inflicted on the painter, Artemisia Gentileschi ~ until she rises through the force of her character and art. Through vivid depictions of the paintings in the story, and the art of her own writing, Liz has bared her soul and produced this stunning portrait of a courageous genius who refuses to accept the abuse or petty jealousies of men who would oppress her. Brava Artemisa . . . and Liz! — ESSIE FOX, author of THE SOMNAMBULIST Absolutely stunning…Exquisitely written, powerful, gripping, devastating, and timely. I loved it so much. Everyone should read it — DINAH JEFFERIES Disobedient is often beautiful, sometimes shocking and always propulsive. A remarkable book I’m unlikely to forget * Louisa Treger, author of MAD WOMAN * A rich and dark portrait of an extraordinary woman * Sunday Times, Books of the Year *