by Allegra Goodman
The Dial Press, 2025. 346 pages. Historical Fiction
France, 1531. Orphaned Marguerite de la Rocque was heir to a chateau with its own village and lands. But her guardian, Jean Francois de la Rocque de Roberval, sells Marguerite's property to embark on an expedition to New France, bringing Marguerite and her maidservant with him. When Roberval discovers Marguerite has fallen for his secretary, he is furious, seeing their affection as betrayal. As punishment, Marguerite, the man she considers to be her husband, and her servant are marooned on a small island off the coast, condemned to certain death. When the weather turns and the island is blanketed in ice, survival becomes nearly impossible and Marguerite must find the inner strength to survive.
Goodman's account of the real-life survival adventure of Marguerite de la Rocque is a novel of stark contrasts. It has a lyrical and thoughtful writing style, while also depicting fast-paced moments filled with tension. Goodman takes a while to set the scene, and I appreciated the chance to immerse myself in the world of 1500s France. This depiction of Marguerite's early life in the French countryside helps show what a shock it would be to suddenly find yourself abandoned on a remote island with hardly any provisions, and no knowledge of how to fend for yourself. I also appreciated the nuances religion adds to Marguerite's life—both for good and bad. This is a book that I'll be thinking about for a while.
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