The Illumination of Ursula Flight is the stunning debit novel by Anna-Marie Crowhurst. The imaginative and memorable cover hints that the story inside is going to be a special one, and Ursula’s tale is definitely that. She is born on the night of a bad luck comet, and at times, this does seem to impact on her future. Although she has a difficult relationship with her mother, the latter perhaps understanding the unfulfilling life her headstrong daughter faces, Ursula has a happy childhood. She is particularly close to her father, who is rather more forward thinking and educates and encourages Ursula in her love of learning, particularly that of reading and writing. Ursula dreams of becoming a famous playwright, and she and her friends spend many hours acting out her early attempts. However, when she is 15, Ursula learns that she is to be married to a man she barely knows, who is much older than she and who shares none of her interests. More over, he and his Mother, have very specific idea of what a woman should do and say. Once married, frustrated and alone, Ursula takes her future into her own hands.
This is a remarkable book; it is amusing, distressing, uplifting and moving. Ursula is an inspiring young woman, all the more so when we remember that she was born in 1664. For her whole life she battles for what she wants, whether it is evermore knowledge as a child, or to live her life how she wants to as she becomes a young woman. For much of Ursula’s life her future is governed and dictated by men. This starts with her father who although we think is enlightened with the education he provides for his daughter, does not hesitate at marrying her off to a wealthy, though entirely unsuitable, gentleman for the benefit of the family. Ursula’s life then becomes totally dominated by her new husband, which ultimately leads her to rebel and live her life as she wants. Without giving away any of the plot, even then her ambitions for her career and her love life are still controlled by the men in her life. Throughout however, Ursula remains resolute in her determination to become a playwright and live her own life.
The style of writing really draws in the reader. Despite some of the distressing things Ursula experiences, the writing is so uplifting that you are cheering Ursula on and urging her to deal with the set backs in her own inimitable way. Crowhurst has provided a variety of styles for Ursula’s story to unfold. Interspersed with the narrative, there are excerpts from many of Ursula’s plays, her journals and her letters to friends and family. These devices give us more of an insight to how Ursula feels and the reactions of others to her thoughts and opinions.
The Illumination of Ursula Flight is a memorable book for all the right reasons. But Crowhurst has set a very high bar for her second book.
This is a remarkable book; it is amusing, distressing, uplifting and moving. Ursula is an inspiring young woman, all the more so when we remember that she was born in 1664. For her whole life she battles for what she wants, whether it is evermore knowledge as a child, or to live her life how she wants to as she becomes a young woman. For much of Ursula’s life her future is governed and dictated by men. This starts with her father who although we think is enlightened with the education he provides for his daughter, does not hesitate at marrying her off to a wealthy, though entirely unsuitable, gentleman for the benefit of the family. Ursula’s life then becomes totally dominated by her new husband, which ultimately leads her to rebel and live her life as she wants. Without giving away any of the plot, even then her ambitions for her career and her love life are still controlled by the men in her life. Throughout however, Ursula remains resolute in her determination to become a playwright and live her own life.
The style of writing really draws in the reader. Despite some of the distressing things Ursula experiences, the writing is so uplifting that you are cheering Ursula on and urging her to deal with the set backs in her own inimitable way. Crowhurst has provided a variety of styles for Ursula’s story to unfold. Interspersed with the narrative, there are excerpts from many of Ursula’s plays, her journals and her letters to friends and family. These devices give us more of an insight to how Ursula feels and the reactions of others to her thoughts and opinions.
The Illumination of Ursula Flight is a memorable book for all the right reasons. But Crowhurst has set a very high bar for her second book.