Midnight Rose: a life of Maud Allan

by Wendy Buonaventura

MIDNIGHT ROSE is based on the life of Edwardian dancer Maud Allan, who performed as the Bible’s most notorious temptress and paid the price for embodying men’s worst nightmares about women. Allan’s 'Vision of Salome' made her a celebrity, though the dance profession in those days was considered only a step above prostitution. In 1918 a newspaper article hinted that she was a lesbian and Allan sued for libel. The trial that followed threw a searchlight on the social hypocrisies and sexual ignorance of the age, as self-appointed guardians of public morality lined up to attack the one of the most famous women of her day.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction

262 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

I am a writer, choreographer and performer. My books - mainly non-fiction - and dance theatre work explore women’s social history and the cultural myths surrounding female sensuality. I was the subject of the tv documentary 'Making Mimi' and in 2008 I founded the dance festival SIROCCO. http://www.siroccofestival.org.uk. I have taken a leap into biographical fiction with my latest book 'Midnight Rose: a life of Maud Allan'.

Reviews

[Rosary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I sincerely enjoyed this book. I had never heard of Maud Allan and was very intrigued to learn more about her. I know that not all of this book is based on fact but I found it inspired me to further research Maud and her life. It was a great perspective to read about her life from the point of view of a lifelong friend.

The contrast of her letters, diary entries, excerpts from the trial, and Nettie's thoughts provided a well-rounded glimpse into her life. I felt like I could better understand who she was an the struggles she encountered. During the trial chapters, I really felt for her and what she had to endure to stand up for herself. The actual scripts from the trial show that Billing really did not care how much he tore her down.

Something I also appreciated about the novel is the strength behind the women of the time. I was born at a time when women are expected to work and provide for themselves and their family. It is not uncommon for women to remain unmarried for a long time or forever. During Maud's time, it was much less common to be self-sufficient and unwed. I enjoyed reading about women who placed their self-worth above society's expectations.

[Jocelyn Condenzio-Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an extremely enjoyable read about a fascinating woman, Maud Allan, who was ahead of her time but chose to live her life on her terms in a time of suffocating repression for women. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone interested in women's roles in society during the Edwardian Era as well as those interested in a view of society from a woman's perspective in a male dominated time.

[Hazel · Rating 3 out of 5]

interesting

[Karen]

http://www.messynessychic.com/2018/06...