The Birth Of Venus

The Birth Of Venus

by SarahDunant (Author)

Synopsis

Alessandra is not quite fifteen when her prosperous merchant father brings a young painter back with him from Holland to adorn the walls of the new family chapel. She is fascinated by his talents and envious of his abilities and opportunities to paint to the glory of God. Soon her love of art and her lively independence are luring her into closer involvement with all sorts of taboo areas of life. On excursions into the streets of night-time Florence she observes a terrible evil stalking the city and witnesses the rise of the fiery young priest, Savanarola, who has set out to rid the city of vice, richness, even art itself. Alessandra must make crucial decisions about the shape of her adult life, as Florence itself must choose between the old ways of the luxury-loving Medicis and the asceticism of Savanorola. And through it all, there is the painter, whose love will change everything.

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More Information

Format: Paperback
Pages: 432
Edition: New e.
Publisher: Virago
Published: 05 Feb 2004

ISBN 10: 1844080358
ISBN 13: 9781844080359
Book Overview: * Reissued in a new look is this richly imagined historical novel that combines mystery, history, politics and passion in a story of gripping power, from the author of SACRED HEARTS

Media Reviews
The Birth of Venus is a highly intelligent novel... the intensely imagined Alessandra, through whose eyes we see the tragic end of a key moment in human culture and whose lively sensibility constantly sparks ideas about art and her time. Roz Kaveney, AMAZON.CO.UK REVIEW Dunant throws out ideas about sex, art and the divine with Renaissance-style sprezzatura The INDEPENDENT Dunant is in her historical element in Renaissance Florence. ... No one should visit Tuscany this summer without this book. It is richly textured and driven by a thrillerish fever. Rachel Holmes, The TIMES It's to Dunant's credit that the vast quantities of historical information in this book are deployed so naturally and lightly. ... On the simplest level, this is an erotic and gripping thriller, but its intellectual excitement also comes from the way Dun - Suzi Feay, Independent on Sunday 'A beautiful serpent of a book, seductive dangerous and full of wise guile. Dunant's snaky tale of art, sex and Florentine hysteria, consumes utterly - but the experience is all pleasure.'
Author Bio
Sarah Dunant is a cultural commentator, award-winning thriller writer and author of a trilogy of novels set in renaissance Italy exploring women's lives through art, sex and religion.