THE GOLDEN TULIP - Rosalind Laker
Three Rivers Press (Trade Paperback)
ISBN: 978-0-307-35257-6
December 2007
Historical Fiction

Holland - Mid-Seventeenth Century

Francesca Visser, one of three daughters of an artist, has grown up in an unconventional household. Her father, besides concentrating on his paintings, is a hopeless gambler, so their income fluctuates with his luck and whether he has any commissions to sell. Francesca, the oldest, and her middle sister are also talented painters in their own right, and both intend to pursue this dream above and beyond that of being a wife and mother. In fact, Francesca has made it clear that she has no intention of marrying, completely unaware of her beauty and how it affects men.

When Francesca is offered an apprenticeship with Jan Vermeer in Delft, she is elated. What she doesn't know is that her father, after massive gambling losses, has signed an agreement with the mysterious ship owner, Ludolf van Deventer, that Francesca will marry him. Francesca goes off to Delft unaware of her future, and during her apprenticeship, she meets a friend from home, Pieter van Doorne, a tulip grower and member of the Dutch military. Despite her resistance to marriage, she finds herself falling in love with the young man. But van Deventer is obsessed and will go to any length to have Francesca, including murder and treason.

This intriguing tale of Holland is extremely well-written and filled with fascinating details of not only the tulip trade, but also with wonderful observations of the famous artists of that era. One Visser neighbor was the painter Rembrandt, and the family cherished the painting that they had of his. Vermeer's family life is warm and cozy, which makes Francesca feel at home. The dark side of the novel, the unscrupulous van Deventer, will have readers holding their breath at times as we await his reappearance. Pieter is as determined as van Deventer to have Francesca, but on her terms, and his honesty and integrity shine.

THE GOLDEN TULIP is a brilliant, absorbing novel that opens up the world of art and Dutch history to us. A character-driven tale, Francesca and her family come to life as they face changes in themselves and their country. I highly recommend this excellent book.

Jani Brooks