A compelling work of historical fiction which recounts the astonishing life of Lola Montez, a daring young Irish woman who took on the role in life of a Spanish dancer. Set against the turbulent beginnings of the 19th century, An Invitation to Dance sweeps from the margins of the Empire - Ireland and India - to within the upper echelons of society. This is the extraordinary fictionalised story of a woman who danced her way across Europe leaving scandal in her wake - becoming the muse of Liszt and causing the abdication of King Ludwig I of Bavaria.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
An Invitation to An Amazing Work of Historical Fiction,
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This review is from: An Invitation to Dance (Hardcover)
This has been an excellent read. I highly recommend it for fans of historical fiction based on or about strong women in history. This novel follows the life of Lola Montez, legendary dancer and woman of scandal.
Born Eliza Gilbert to an Irish mother and an English Navy officer, the future Lola Montez travels at a young age to British occupied India, to a strict Puritan household in Scotland, and to a girl's boarding school in England. Basically, Eliza lives everywhere but with her mother, who seems to hate her with a passion. Upon finishing school and being faced with marriage to an old widower, Eliza does what many a young courageous girl in her situation would do, she runs off with a man of her choice. As luck would have it tho, it just happens to be a man her mother also seems to have her sights set on despite her already married status. Thus, the marriage is doomed from the get go. What follows is scandalous love affairs and divorce. Eliza finds herself ostracized from "polite" society and as her "love" affairs always turn out to be "lust" affairs in the end, she finds herself with no means of support. She has two choices: become a governess or a woman of ill repute. Eliza does neither. She becomes a dancer and after a trip to Spain, puts Eliza Gilbert/Eliza James in the past and brings to life Lola Montez. Lola Montez could not be more different from Eliza Gilbert James. Lola Montez does not sit and sew, but sweeps across the stage clicking her castanets and throwing her slippers. Lola Montez carries a small pistol, a dagger, and a gentleman's rawhide horsewhip which she dares to use on an officer's face in Poland, branding herself a heroine of the Polish revolution. Eliza Gilbert James lived to please others, Lola Montez lives only to please herself and even has the gall to spurn the amorous advances of a prince. Men cheated on Eliza, but die in duels for Lola. However, it seems the passionate, sensual, and vibrant Lola can not find nor hold onto true love... Can her travels to America or even Australia change her luck? A TERRIFIC read. This was a book well worth my purchase and staying on my shelf.
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