Historical fiction meets imagination

All Things Literary

I’ve always appreciated the complexity of a historical fiction novel, and especially the work of Tracy Chevalier. So, when my good friend offered me her copy of Chevalier’s "The Virgin Blue," I was eager to read the novel. What I found not only was a complex and fascinating modern-day story, but also a paralleled, eerie and intense look into the world of 16th century France — where Protestantism and Catholicism violently were colliding with each other.

Ella Turner has just moved from coastal California to the sleepy French town of Lisle-sur-Tarn in, where her husband has accepted a job in an architecture firm in nearby Toulouse. Feeling completely out of sorts in her new environment, Ella hopes she can ease her anxiety by returning to her roots, which include practicing midwifery and researching her French Huguenot ancestors.

Among the faded pages of the town’s library, Ella discovers ties to past residents of Lisle-sur-Tarn, the Tournier family. Yet as Ella dives into her history, disturbing dreams and images of a mysterious blue color begin to haunt her.

As soon as Ella experiences these visions for the first time, Chevalier immediately transitions into a new chapter, where 16th century France comes alive among the Tournier family, most notably with Isabella du Moulin, a farm girl and midwife who bears a striking resemblance to Ella.

Isabella and her husband are members of a radical Calvinist sect that violently disapproves of the Catholic religion. Among the community, this religious group has banished all images of the Virgin Mary, who consistently is portrayed with flowing red hair and a blue dress. Unfortunately, Isabella’s red hair and midwifery make her a prime target among a group looking for a scapegoat. Isabella’s relationship with her husband grows increasingly strained and her life becomes more threatened by the people who surround her.

Intrigued by the similarities that she and Isabella share, and desperate to know why these images of blue continue to haunt her, Ella becomes nearly obsessed with learning about the Tournier family. She convinces herself that somehow in the remnants of her ancestor’s history she will find relief or comfort from her own life.

As Ella and Isabella’s stories reach their respective climaxes, women’s ties become glaringly and frighteningly apparent. Their two seemingly separate worlds clash together and the novel ends much like it began — with an eerie sense of mystery and curiosity hanging over you.

This book is amazing. Chevalier’s characters are captivating; her two lead women have such strong personalities and wills to protect themselves that one can’t help but be drawn into their worlds. For anyone who appreciates thought-provoking suspense and imaginative storytelling, this book is a must-read.