This is the second book in a year I have read on this woman about whom I knew absolutely nothing. Her main reasons for being remembered are for being the first woman to be known as a professional poet. Perhaps not in her day but she did publish a book of her poems and at the time that was extraordinary. She was also rumored to be the “Dark Lady” in Shakespeare’s sonnets.

Her family were the court musicians for Queen Elizabeth and that gave them access to Court but the family was not wealthy. Emilia’s father died young and left her to care for her ailing mother. There were issues as to whether her dowry was still there for her or not but that became moot when she was purported raped and her value as a wife was all but destroyed (’cause you know it must have been her fault and all.) She then became the mistress of the Queen’s cousin and this allowed her to support herself and her mother – until she become pregnant. This created a whole new level of problems that forced her into a marriage with her cousin.

Emelia was always a curious woman, looking to read as much as she could. She was also a talented musician in her own right. It was supposedly through her family connections that she encountered Shakespeare. As to the true nature of their relationship – that is the basis of this fictional tale. I will note that Master Shakespeare does not come off smelling like a rose by any name. He rather comes off like a rat fink.

I will admit that at times the tale wore on me for the stupidity of some of the actions of a “woman in love.” Emilia seemed at times too much a leaf in the wind, unable to do a thing to help herself. Perhaps that was the way of the times, perhaps it was too many shifts in the wind without the slightest twist from the leaf. I don’t know. Overall though it was an interesting – and far different – look at the life of a woman who did do something no other woman had done before her. It was a feat that should be honored and remembered for too many of these bits of women’s history are lost to time. ( )

After reading The Girl in the Glass Tower, I was keen to learn more about the poetess and musician Aemilia Lanyer, and so was thrilled when I was offered this book to review. It takes a much broader view of Aemilia's life (or Emilia's, as she's called here), following her from childhood to middle age, and exploring the challenges faced by well-educated, independent women even in the age of Elizabeth I: surely the paragon of such virtues. Unlike The Girl in the Glass Tower, there is little mention of Arbella Stuart here: this isn't a book about court intrigue so much as the simpler human desire for self-expression, and the limits placed upon that. Accompanied by an engaging cast of secondary character, Emilia is brought into appealingly vivid life and the book teems with the sights, sounds and scents of Tudor England...

For the full review, due to be published on 1 May 2017, please see my blog:
https://theidlewoman.net/2017/05/01/dark-lady-charlene-ball ( )