Gail Meath brings a legendary Spanish woman to life in this historical women’s fiction, Agustina de Aragón. The novel is based on the life of Agustina Raimunda Maria Saragossa, the Spanish Joan of Arc. The novel appears well-researched and to accurately depict the daily life of Spaniards in the early nineteenth century before and during the Peninsular War (1808–1814) in which Napoleon attempts to conquer Spain. This becomes known as the Spanish War of Independence.
Agustina begins as a headstrong girl and matures into a courageous, patriotic woman. Along the way she falls in love with Roca, a military man attached to the base in her hometown. They marry and carry their love into the battlefield. She earns the nickname “Artillera” when, seeing her husband wounded in battle but struggling to light a cannon, she grabs the torch and fires the cannon into an onslaught of French soldiers. Her bravery sparks the downtrodden Spaniards into resisting the French, often using guerrilla war tactics. She becomes the first woman—and probably the youngest person—ever inducted into the Spanish military as a lieutenant. She is later promoted to major and ultimately receives the Spanish version of our Medal of Honor.
Meath introduces us to a real-life legend, but overall her novel falls a little flat. I appreciate Meath’s efforts at bringing a woman, essentially unknown outside of Spain, to modern readers. I enjoyed reading it because I have Spanish ancestors. Written in strict chronological order, Agustina de Aragón is mostly told rather than shown. While it takes us into Agustina’s world and presents the realities of war, it could use a bit more depth.
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Agustina de Aragón (Independently published, March 25, 2021) is available through Amazon.
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