To Crown with Liberty: A Novel of the French Revolution

Danielle Heckenkamp reviews a new historical novel written by Catholic Mom contributor Karen Ullo.

The revolutionary movement in France shook the world and left lasting effects upon that nation. It is an intriguing historical event as one reflects upon its monarchy and the foundation of the new Regime. There is no doubt that the events leading up to the French Revolution were not isolated within its borders, as both internal and foreign influences assisted in swerving specific factions towards these radical changes.

If there be anything solid in virtue—the time must come when it will have been a disgrace to have advocated the Revolution of France in its late stages. (Alexander Hamilton Papers at the Library of Congress, Container 25, Reel 22)

The path of destruction is sometimes only evident after it has taken a full course. Such could be said of the French Revolution, for its initial intent was manipulated toward violence. It is one thing to learn about historical events in a textbook, but it is a completely different experience when a reader delves into a personal narrative. Historical fiction can transport readers into any period through the personal escapades of well-developed characters. The spring release of To Crown with Liberty, written by Karen Ullo, offers readers this unique perspective into the affairs leading up to the French Revolution and the destructive aftermath of such enforced progressive ideologies upon its citizens: from the endangered aristocrats to the commoners longing for personal independence.

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To Crown with Liberty takes readers into a whirling journey of intrigue, love, and loss intertwined with the events stemming from the effects of the French Revolution. The dual setting presents a story of a young woman, distraught by the destruction and cruelty of the Reign of Terror, with an underlying desire for atonement and forgiveness from those in her past and in her present world. The heart of the story rests on the themes of friendship, forgiveness, and acceptance as the feminine heroine, Alix de Morainville encounters the crossroads between loss and love. She escapes the Reign of Terror to the rough lands of colonial Louisiana with her husband, Joseph Carpentier who is brilliantly described by Ullo:

Not the kind of dreamer who, if he could not touch the stars, would try to pull them closer. He was the kind of man who turns away and does his best to content himself with earth.

Throughout this captivating tale, Alix de Morainville, a former lady-in-waiting to Marie Antoniette, seeks to flee the consequences of her aristocratic roots from the Reign of Terror but finds her past catching up with her present life in the New World. The novel is an exquisite tale that interlaces Joseph Carpentier and Alix de Morainville Carpentier’s journey through the swamp of Attakapas, while recollecting their past life in France. The social barriers that had once restrained their lives are now shattered, but there is no guarantee life will be easier in the wild territory of Louisiana.

It is through the untamed swamps of Louisiana that Alix de Morainville reignites memories of her life in France and comes to terms with her position as a woman in this wild colony, though thankfully, far from the wickedness of the new French regime. Alix de Morainville spends much of the story hiding from the revelations of her past actions, but ultimately, she comprehends the stakes if one runs from friendship and love.

It is among recollections and character interactions that the female heroine recalls the death of her father and her first husband at the hands of the new French regime and its long-term effects upon her soul, her future marriage, and her search for acceptance in the New World. The forgiveness that Alix seeks is personal, as she must learn to forgive herself and understand that her sacrificial love for family and friends was of far greater worth than previously estimated.

Ullo’s prose is tantalizing with a lyrical twist that paints a vivid picture of hardship and love among the atrocities of the Reign of Terror with the desire to renew the human spirit. At its core, To Crown with Liberty is a story of sacrificial love that seeks to ennoble the human heart and its search for acceptance in a world of hate and ignorance. Ullo reminds readers that even through the most difficult and hardened circumstances, love and friendship can provoke a soul to cope with loss and regret. Ultimately, the heart has no bounds to love, and it is through difficult circumstances that people can adjust and amend their fallen nature towards growth in virtue, love, and acceptance.

Ask for To Crown with Liberty at your local Catholic bookseller, or order online from Amazon.com or the publisher, Chrism Press.

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