"Lady of the Butterflies" is a fictional account of the life of the real historical figure Eleanor Glanville. Eleanor was one of the first female naturalists.
Set in seventeenth century England, "Lady of the Butterflies" follows the life of Eleanor from her youth through adulthood. Eleanor is raised in her home of Tickenham Court by her father William Goodricke, a wealthy nobleman who is a staunch Puritan in an era when the Puritan faith is strongly shunned by the rest of society. Along with her differing religious background, Eleanor’s overwhelming curiosity and her love of butterflies and the natural world alienate her from those around her. The society she is living in believes it is unnatural for a young noblewoman to run around chasing butterflies and reading scientific books.
When her father suddenly falls ill and dies of ague, Eleanor is left in the care of William Merrick, a wealthy merchant who has, on many occasions, tried to convince Eleanor’s father to drain the wetlands of Tickenham. Knowing such a change would have a negative impact on the fishermen, eelers, and sedge-cutters who rely on the wetlands for their livelihoods, Eleanor is firmly set against the idea. Mr. Merrick, however, believes he knows how to force Eleanor into draining the wetlands. He knows Eleanor has fallen for Edmund Ashfield, a dashing young nobleman who happens to be an acquaintance of Mr. Merrick. William Merrick believes that he can convince Edmund of the “wisdom” of having the wetlands of Tickenham drained. If Edmund were to marry Eleanor, Edmund would then be master of Tickenham and would have the authority to order the wetlands drained even without Eleanor’s approval. When Edmund and Eleanor do indeed marry, however, it becomes clear that Edmund will not force Eleanor into any such arrangement.
Eleanor quickly bears Edmund two children, a boy and a girl, and by all accounts the marriage is a happy one. Not everything in this marriage is perfect, however. Despite trying her hardest to fight her feelings, Eleanor has fallen madly in love with Richard Glanville, Edmund’s best friend, and Richard makes it blatantly clear that he reciprocates Eleanor’s feelings. It is at this point which Eleanor’s story truly begins.
This novel has something for everyone: passion, romance, mystery, science, and a strong heroine.
I quickly became engrossed in “Lady of the Butterflies”, not wanting to put it down until I reached the last page. I would highly recommend this book.
