Natasha Solomons’ latest
book, The Gallery of Vanished Husbands is a portrait
of Juliet Montague’s life from 1958 to 2006. She chooses
her own future by challenging her world both culturally and
religiously. Natasha’s main character looks upon herself
as an outsider and strives for an independent identity without
losing the closeness of her parents and children.
The novel begins with Juliet being conflicted when she decides
not to be just a mother, but instead, she wants to find another
piece of herself. The author gets this point across by using
the backdrop of the sixties where women were beginning to
gain opportunities and were becoming more independent.
Juliet is also conflicted after her husband abandons her
and her children, Frieda and Leonard, making her an ‘aguna,’
which is the Hebrew word for a chained or anchored woman:
married but unable to obtain a divorce unless her husband
grants one. About fifteen years later, on her thirtieth birthday,
she decides to claim her own identity.
Natasha shows how Juliet is able to use the world of art
to combine her passion and interest by becoming the owner,
curator, and navigator of a trendy gallery in London. Yet,
even though financially able, she chooses not to leave the
Suburban Orthodox Jewish community because of the importance
of her relationships with her parents and children.
Natasha explains, “I wanted to contrast the quiet suburban
traditional life Juliet had with the new wave of ideas in
London brought about during the sixties. She has the money
to move away yet she has chosen to stay in the small house
in the heart of the Jewish community. After being abandoned
she is forced to raise two young children. She struggles with
wanting to do right by her children and on the other hand
her ambition pushes her to be something other than just a
mom. I also had Juliet’s parents represent the more
formal lifestyle while contrasting that with Juliet who in
many ways rejected their traditions, which included falling
in love with Max, a non-Jew.”
The author symbolizes the changes in Juliet’s views
through the hundred portraits painted of her, all painted
by different artists. Each portrait catches a little glimpse
of who she was at the time of the paining. Natasha notes,
“The portraits express her desire to be seen and rejects
the feeling of isolation. She is curious to see how other
people view her. She definitely put the portrait by her lover
Max into her bedroom to show she was in love with him. There
is also the importance of the portrait painted when she was
nine and stolen by her husband. She is constantly looking
to retrieve it because the painting represents a piece of
her that is missing.”
Although a bit slow paced at times Natasha Solomons paints
a wonderful picture with her words in The Gallery of Vanished
Husbands. Through Juliet’s life she explores many
different struggles including the role of religion, of being
a single mother, and striving for independence. This book
is an intriguing read for those who want to understand the
emotional struggle of a woman living in the sixties.
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