Sofie & Cecilia
Sofie & Cecilia is a historical novel by Canadian author Katherine Ashenburg. The novel drew attention for being Ashenburg's fiction debut published when she was 72.[1] She was inspired to write the book after a visit to Sweden where she learned that despite the fact that they had the same artistic training, Swedish artist Carl Larsson forbid his wife Karin to work after they were married. She initially reached out to her friend, writer Jane Urquhart, hoping she would write about the Larsson's, but Urquhart instead encouraged Ashenburg to write a novel about them herself.[2]
A work of fiction, the titular characters are loosely based on Emma Lamm, wife of Swedish artist Anders Zorn, and Karin Bergöö Larsson wife of Swedish artist Carl Larsson.
The novel follows the lives of the two titular characters, Sofie and Cecilia, Swedish women who are both married to artists, who meet in their 30s and develop a life long friendship.
Reception
The novel received positive mixed reviews. Quill & Quire criticized the novel for being "consistently flat, conveying no heights of either personal or artistic passion."[3]
References
- ^ Ashenburg, Katherine. "I published my first novel in my 70s — and I'm in good company". Retrieved 30 October 2018.
- ^ "How a trip to Sweden inspired long-time nonfiction author Katherine Ashenburg to write her first novel". Retrieved 30 October 2018.
- ^ Maitzen, Rohan. "Sofie & Cecilia". Retrieved 30 October 2018.