Ironhead, or, Once a Young Lady

Eighteen-year-old Constance is forced into an arranged marriage with a man twice her age. She rebels by dressing as a man and sneaking out to visit her brother, who is drafted into the army.

Format: Hardback
Length: 432 pages
Publication date: 28 April 2022
Publisher: Levine Querido

Eighteen-year-old Constance has no interest in marriage or the societal expectations of being a "young lady." However, in the early 1800s, that was the only option available to young women of her age. Despite her parents' arrangement for her to marry a man twice her age, Constance is powerless to resist. She finds her newfound husband less appealing, but she is unable to do anything about it.

Four months into the marriage, Constance finds a way to escape their bed in the middle of the night. She puts on her husband's clothes and looks in the mirror, liking what she sees. She then sneaks out of the house before dawn and visits the bakers scrawny son, who has just been drafted into the army. Offering to take his place, Constance declares, "Vive l'Empereur!"

While Constance is on the run, her younger brother Pieter is determined to bring her back home to Ghent, believing that the battlefield is no place for a young lady. Pieter relentlessly pursues Constance, determined to bring her back under their parents' control.

Ironhead, or, Once A Young Lady, is a riotous and powerful story of a fierce renegade who defies societal expectations and the silly men who try to bring her down. Constance's determination and resilience make her a captivating protagonist, while her younger brother's loyalty and determination add depth to the narrative. The novel explores themes of rebellion, identity, and the pursuit of freedom in a time when societal norms were strict and limited.

Weight: 914g
Dimension: 160 x 236 x 39 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781646140480