Did you learn anything new about the time period in which the story is set?

Fair Rosaline is, at its heart, historical fiction. Did you learn anything new about the time period in which the story is set?

I did. I knew sons were important but am not sure I realized how little value women had other than a marriage that provided value to the family. I was surprised at how easily daughter's were simply cast off if they could offer nothing if value.

I thought the author's attention to period detail was perhaps the best part of the book. She certainly seems to have done a lot of research about the era! I thought her weaving in the plague information in particular was very well done and interesting.

I found it a surprising fact that in this time period there were such strict social rules and norms, especially for women, yet they had such outlandish parties and revelry! I guess it makes sense that some outlets for stress relief would be tolerated. I enjoyed learning the parts about how during the Plague the community isolated and the laws to determine when isolation ended also learning about day to day life in the nunnery
I agree with Kimk that “period
details” where a great addition to this story!

I have to say it was shocking how little women and especially daughters were valued at that time and how little medicine had progressed at that point.

It fits well with what I have learned about the time period and what Shakespeare wrote in his plays about.

I can't say that I did learn anything new about the time period, although the author did do a great job of describing the treatment of women and the time of the plague.

I know a fair amount about the 1600s having read La Monica di Monza - which is Italian literature about a girl forced to enter a convent; however, I was interested in the way they handled the plague.

The historical research and details illuminated throughout the book were a true gift to readers-- thank you Natasha Solomons! One detail I found interesting was how many coins Rosaline used to send individuals with messages around town... the peasants and servants described in the book were in such amazing contrast to the lavish lifestyles of the upper-class.

The really interesting thing I realized was the difference in the two cultures of Italy where is was set and England where it was seen. Different attitudes and England probably being far more open minded. Even though S. had never been to Italy he was very good at the setting of it. I suspect religion had a lot to do with what the Elizabethan audience saw and felt also.

The details woven in about the plague and the way society is reacting and recovering from that were really interesting to me! I hadn't read much about that time period up until now so it was all new and intriguing information.

I didn't really learn anything new about the period but I liked how the author described thing so vividly from the plague to the parties. She really made you see the time period through descriptions of the clothing too.

I had visited Verona on a tour of Italy when I was in my twenties. We had photos taken on the supposed balcony in the town itself, not in a secluded private garden. I was interested in the leaders and government of the city and surrounding country. Always the power of the wealthy dominating everything. The church is also prominent and powerful and no doubt as in the story at the call of the wealthy, no matter what.

I had visited Verona on a tour of Italy when I was in my twenties. We had photos taken on the supposed balcony in the town itself, not in a secluded private garden. I was interested in the leaders and government of the city and surrounding country. Always the power of the wealthy dominating everything. The church is also prominent and powerful and no doubt as in the story at the call of the wealthy, no matter what.

I was surprised at how much actual freedom there was in the convent.