In the bestselling novel, Lara Theresa, written by Bruce Sterling, we follow the titular young woman as she finds herself caught between two nations. The first is her native Britain, where she enjoys a confident adolescence and is intrigued by the rise of a new post-war generation in the country’s cultural history. The second, equally ambitious nation, is that of Ireland, where the young woman comes in contact with both an empire and a struggling people – one that has been driven under by a religious conflict for many years. As their unlikely friendship grows, they find themselves deeply conflicted about the place their relationship should take them, and as their own identities as women are torn apart by these conflicting identity issues.
This intense yet tender novel is full of optimism about young women breaking free of gender and national stereotypes. Not only is Lara Theresa a fast-paced young woman who know what she wants from life, but she also displays superb writing skills in weaving historical and cultural information with her own personality. Her descriptions of Ireland and Britain’s colonial past are inspired, and her character is often described as a “real woman”. While her height and nationality might put some readers off – particularly her Irish heritage – the book’s buoyancy and ability to take the reader into the characters’ shoes makes her a fascinating and memorable character. The two nationalities in question are both complex, but the way they are depicted in this novel help bring them to life. Solid characters are usually rare in literature; especially young women, but this novel has managed to capture the complex yet resilient nature of two remarkable women.
In many ways, Lara Theresa is a modern-day reincarnation of Florence Nightingale; both her occupation and her personal growth parallel the great female explorer. As we watch her climb the heights of success and determination, we are also swept back by her personality. We see her determined ambition mirrored in her decision to marry a rich man; her courage is displayed when faced with an evil opponent; and her height and beauty are enough to make readers swoon. As the old adage says, “the taller you climb, the longer you walk.”