Royal Intrigue
IRENE IWAN speaks to Irish-American author Susan Froetschel about her new thriller… - 30/12/08
Susan Froetschel’s third novel, Royal Escape focuses on a princess’s attempt to remove her children from the royal system. Froetschel has taught writing at Yale University (the same university where Tony Blair now teaches his class on Faith and Globalization) and journalism at Southern Connecticut State University. In review of the book, Publisher's Weekly wrote: "Froetschel offers a nuanced view of Elena's relations with the royal family that closely follows the obvious historical model. Readers looking for a less tragic fate for the late Diana, princess of Wales, will find much to like in this beguiling what-if." Froetschel lives with her husband, son and two cats in Connecticut…
What are your Irish roots exactly?
My mother, who died in 1964, was Jeanne Marie Riley. Her parents, Sarah and Joseph were both Irish, and her maternal grandmother (my great grandmother) was Mary Philbin who arrived in the US from County Cork around the turn of the century as an indentured servant who worked for a Pittsburgh judge for seven years. While they did not talk much about the past, they were immensely proud of their Irish Catholic roots. My paternal grandmother was also part Irish as well.
Is it proper that an American writes a mystery novel featuring the British royal family?
Americans are fascinated with the British monarchy, its connections to our own history and its influence over our own politics - and rightly so. A story from the U.S. perspective can only explore features of the system that may go unaddressed in Great Britain as well as new challenges for the family in the modern era. And certainly, some U.S. celebrity and political families share similarities with the British royal family.
What led you to writing about the British monarchy?
In 1996, I enjoyed reading the book "Primary Colors: A Novel of Politics," by Anonymous, whom we now know as Time Magazine's Joe Klein. But I loved how he explored the process behind the presidential campaign. He used his imagination to analyze strategies, relationships and motivation. From a far more distant vantage point, I tried to imagine the thoughts of an unhappy mother who is troubled about her children being put on a pedestal.
Does the story closely follow the biography of Princess Diana?
No, my book only picks up on some common trends that happen to parallel her life story - including the fascination with monarchy and modern divorce, fascination with celebrity, recognition that people, ordinary or privileged, share some common goals, and the natural resistance against any form of inequality. But the book could serve as a cautionary tale for any who might marry into the monarchy.
Does your concern on inequality focus on taxes or the notion of class?
Status that comes by way of birth and not actual deeds is inescapable in any book on the monarchy. But more importantly, I sympathize with members of the royal family and the lack of choice for immediate members. They cannot easily relocate to other countries or freely pursue some careers, and they are bound to traditions on travel, holidays, child-rearing and education. Breaking away from family traditions is much harder for members of the royal family than for the ordinary citizen. Any step in a new direction meets with some resistance from the status quo.
What is the biggest challenge for the monarchy?
Probably their status as celebrities, the constant pressure to serve as role models in a fast-changing and diverse world and the fact that they are always on display. I hope my book reflects these challenges in a fair, yet thought-provoking way and that readers both in Britain and the US will better understand why some members might want to break away.
What were your last two thrillers about?
My other two mysteries are both set in Sitka, Alaska: Alaska Gray (St. Martin's, 1994) and Interruptions (Five Star, 2004). Alaska Gray is about a woman who heads to Alaska for a finance job that suddenly disappears; she stays in town and asks questions, resulting in the death of a young artist. Interruptions is about a mother who leads a fight against a cross-island road that would destroy wilderness and doesn't realize how she inspires her young son to take dangerous steps resisting the road as well.
If you were on a desert island and could have four books with you, which would they be?
‘Bound for the Promised Land’ by Richard Marius
‘To the Lighthouse’ by Virginia Woolf
‘Ulysses’ by James Joyce
‘Complete Works of Shakespeare’ (two volume series, part of my mom's last book-club order before her death, but if you insist on one play, then I'd have to say King Lear!)
Royal Escape is published by Five Star Press/Cengage.
PHOTO CREDIT: (Stephen Bobb/Love Life Images, Inc.)
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