How do you begin your life again when you’ve lost everything you’ve worked for and your dreams have been shattered?
That was the question beloved Australian author Belinda Alexandra faced one freezing winter night when she ran from her home in terror, clutching only her wallet, her phone and her latest manuscript on a USB stick.
To pull herself up from rock bottom, Belinda drew strength from the real life women who had inspired her bestselling historical fiction: her mother, Tatiana Morosoff, a White Russian who had fled a home more than once due to wars and revolutions; Virginia Hall, an American who lost her leg in an accident but went on to become one of the most revered Allied agents in World War II France; Carmen Amaya, who despite being born into abject poverty in Barcelona rose to become the greatest Flamenco dancer of all time; Edna Walling, who lost her own dream home in a freak fire but created garden designs that made her one of Australia’s most celebrated landscape designers.
They were women who had faced seemingly insurmountable challenges and found ways to forge ahead on their own terms.
In a compelling and exquisite blend of memoir and history, Belinda shows readers that, no matter what challenge they might be facing, there is always the possibility of building a bold life full of meaning again from the ashes.
Belinda Alexandra is well known for her bestselling historical novels such as The French Agent and The Mystery Woman. She’s also no stranger to non-fiction; The Divine Feline explores the relationship between women and cats throughout history, as well as solving behavioural and philosophical issues for cat owners.
Now she’s written Emboldened, which is a powerful combination of memoir and historical non-fiction that showcases her immeasurable talent as a storyteller. The catalyst for this book came from a traumatic event in Belinda’s own past, one that had her rebuilding her life from rock bottom. While this became the foundation from which she wrote this book, it’s certainly not the focus of the story. On the contrary, she instead puts passion front and centre – her own and the passionate women who inspired her during this dark period.
Anyone who knows or follows Belinda Alexandra knows that she’s wise, lives life with gusto and immerses herself in activities that she’s passionate about. Animal rescue, beautiful design, and of course, her beloved Flamenco dance. In Emboldened, she explores ‘passion’ and its importance in our lives, using four unusual women as examples of how to live life to the fullest.
In Emboldened, Alexandra introduces us to her mother, Tatiana Morosoff and Flamenco dancer Carmen Amaya, along with landscape designer Edna Walling and WWII allied agent, Virginia Hall, and explores how they inspired her to live courageously and passionately. Here, passion is purpose rather than the romantic interpretation of that feeling within a relationship. Belinda touches on being in unhealthy relationships with others as opposed to a healthy one with self. True passion builds resilience, and certainly the strength to overcome our challenges in life.
For Belinda, who suffered CPTSD, her journey to healing has been through several modalities, but first and foremost through flamenco dancing. She began dancing after reading the inspirational story of Carmen Amaya, who against all odds, became the definitive greatest Flamenco dancer of all time. The spirit of flamenco imbues this book. It’s a bold, brave exploration of resilience, connection and purpose, stunning in its execution, filled with history, breathtaking vulnerability and, mostly, passion.
Belinda writes that her mother was a tremendous storyteller. That gift was clearly passed down. Emboldened is a call to arms, a wondrous reminder of our strength, particularly as women, and… well, just an astonishingly good read.
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