AustLit

'Section I and Section II of this book, begins with a dance performance by each of the lead characters and then retraces their lives to an earlier period. This is because of the importance of the dance to these two women, Isadora and Lola. It moves swiftly through chapter to chapter, telling the story of either highlights or lowlights of these two lives. The reader needs to take note of the date of each chapter, in order to understand the point the narrative is at.

'Isadoralola is an historical fiction book based upon the lives of Isadora Duncan and Lola Montez–two famous dancers from the 19th and 20th centuries. Both lived and danced throughout many countries around the world. They were outspoken and passionate about democratic rights for all. They were often frustrated at the subservient roles, that society deemed appropriate for women, during this period. Isadora and Lola loved freely and travelled widely, but also experienced great tragedies in their lives, and died far too young.

'This tale is written from an imagined point of view, written in the first person. It is not a biography. It is, however, written after detailed research into the lives of the two women and endeavours to portray their personalities, as well as relate their experiences within the relevant historical context. As the writer resides in Ballarat, Australia, there are several chapters on Lola Montez's visit to the Ballarat goldfields. The writer calls upon her own experiences of theatre, to get inside the heads of the dancers. This book also features a Sonnet at the start of each chapter, which can then be reread at the end, for it's a poetic précis of the narrative, or feelings, contained within the chapter.' (Publication summary)