A Bum Rap?

by Mary Hart Perry (aka Kathryn Johnson)

Dangerous, seductive, mysterious, fascinating women have used their charms for their own purposes throughout history. The Sirens, Medea, Salome, Marie Antoinette, Mata Hari, and countless others of the female sex who appear in literature, or have led real lives, have been labeled femmes fatales. In more recent days the film industry has made frequent use of the archetype: Lana Turner in The Postman Always Rings Twice, Kathleen Turner in Body Heat, Nicole Kidman in Moulin Rouge, or Angelina Jolie in Original Sin.  The list goes on. For just about every “good” girl, there’s a treacherously beautiful one.

But I think they’ve gotten a bad rap. How many femmes fatales are truly evil? And how many are just stepping out of the role that was expected of them?

Mothers in particular worry about their daughters being slapped with this moniker. Or worse. In doing research for my recent series of Victorian thrillers, I’ve come upon just this sort of concern from Queen Victoria. The little queen was quite obsessed with controlling every detail of her children’s lives. Of her nine kids, five were princesses, and she often felt the need to protect them from themselves—and from their natural urges to step outside of their “proper” roles. After all, one doesn’t want scandal!

Louise wanted to become an artist and enjoyed flirting and otherwise socializing with commoners. She threw caution to the wind and went after what she wanted—a career.

Beatrice longed for physical love even though, as the youngest daughter, she was expected to remain her widowed mother’s virginal companion and never marry.

Vicky rebelled by snagging herself a willing Crown Prince and going off to live with her royal husband on the Continent.

Alice ignored her mother’s warnings and nursed wounded soldiers, thereby becoming intimately familiar with the male body. (One shudders to imagine!)

To Victoria, and many in her court, these were shockingly inappropriate behaviors. No less appalling than the more blatant seductions of their sisters in literature.

To my way of thinking, there’s a touch of the femme fatale in many of us. You’ll also find it in my female characters, at least some of the time. This is, I think, one of the most outstanding qualities of a woman—her ability to creatively use gifts, whatever they may be, to achieve a desired end. To step outside of the norm or the safety of polite society, if necessary, for her benefit or for the greater good of others. She may attract men by the dozens or be quite plain. She may be a danger magnet and take risks to achieve her end, or do her work more subtly. But that’s what makes her interesting and timeless.

Kathryn’s most recent novels, writing as Mary Hart Perry, are:
The Wild Princess—Investigation into recent bombings in London by radical Irish separatists involves Louise, the artist-princess, with one of the queen’s Secret Service agents.
Seducing the Princess—A spy attempts to win the affections of Beatrice, the last unmarried British princess, to gain entry into Queen Victoria’s court and confidence.
The Shadow Princess—Jack the Ripper ravishes London, throwing suspicion on one of the queen’s grandsons. Vicky, the eldest of Victoria’s daughters, teams up with a Whitechapel detective to search for the real killer. (Available February 11, 2014)

Here are ways to reach Kathryn, if you like. . .
www.WriteByYou.com  
www.MaryHartPerry.com
Facebook:  on.fb.me/Kj7hzU
Twitter: @Mary_Hart_Perry
www.goodreads.com/author/show/5334470.Mary_Hart_Perry
Email: [email protected]
      

Comments

[catriona]

Kathryn, I could no more write a novel about Victorian England than I could fit into one of the corsets - but that hasn't stopped me getting premise envy of your Five Princesses. How delicious - and a great post.

[Dana Cameron]

What a terrific piece, Kathryn! Thanks for blogging with the Femmes Fatales. As for this Fatale, I'm not bad; I'm just drawn that way. ;)

[Hank Phillippi Ryan]

WOnderful post, thank you! Using whatever methods to get what you want--is a far different thing from being "evil." When men do it, they call it "being a success."

Catriona, premise envy??? I am howling with laughter.

(And Dana, you in the BSI dress were just as Jessica as anyone I've ever seen...)

[Kathryn Johnson]

Thanks, Catriona, Dana, and Hank! Such fun dropping in at Femmes Fatales. Yes, men walk over or outwit their enemies and succeed. Women are called nasty names for being aggressive on their own behalf. Ha! And talk about envy--all you BSI folks--what I wouldn't give to have been with you. (Gotta love Sherlock!)

[Kathryn Johnson]

PS--Silly me gave the wrong link for Goodreads. Here it is, gang:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5334470.Mary_Hart_Perry

[Donna Andrews]

Don't worry, Kathryn; I updated and linked the Goodreads link in the text.

And really looking forward to reading The Shadow Princess!

[nancy baggett]

So many conventions and rules governing women's behavior in the past were IMHO simply designed to keep them subservient and dependent. It's delightful that you've spotlighted and celebrated some early "uppity" women in your stories--definitely fun reading about.

[Ruth Glick]

The irony w/ Queen Victoria is that she did to her daughters what men did to women. Sad, since she had to fight for her own independence when she was young.

[Donna Andrews]

A good point, Ruth. I've always wondered if Princess Beatrice's savage editing of her mother's diaries was a subconscious form of revenge.

Or maybe not so subconscious.

[pearl]

I think your observations are right on target. Victoria's daughters had all of the scrutiny but none of the freedom which is why I find the premises of your books so fascinating and clever. In order to have any life at all, these princesses would have needed to have secret ones. In the past, I really never gave those princesses much thought, but living their lives in that broad maternal shadow must have been a peculiar sort of torture.

[Toby Devens]

Risk-taking women, daring women, powerful women--brava to them all! Agree with your statement that women are named "witches" (with a capital B) for challenging boundaries and leaping barriers, while men displaying the same traits are applauded for bravery and genius. To follow Victoria's daughters as they defy mother, Queen and convention in your wonderful novels is sheer reading pleasure.

[Mary_Hart_Perry]

Thanks, everyone, for your great comments! Loved my visit here with the fabulous Femmes Fatales. Hugs, MHP

[Elaine Viets]

Thanks for an entertaining post. Those five princesses were determined women of character. Queen Victoria was formidable.

[Eileen Buckholtz]

Good insights, Kathryn. Strong women in history were often labeled as dangerous, evil or worse. Probably the male historians didn't want to encourage role models to upset the balance. I've really enjoyed the earlier books in the series and look forward to the Shadow Princess.

[Mary]

Kathryn, all these books sound fabulous. I'm crazy about anything set in London. Plus intrigue and royalty ... I can't wait to read them. Thank you so much!