By Sarah Dunant
Read: October 2009
Rating: Excellent
The Birth of Venus begins in the most intriguing way… It is the tail end of the Renaissance, in Florence, Italy. An elderly nun in a convent dies from a malignant breast tumor. The convent’s tradition is to wash and clothe the body, make it fresh for the soul’s meeting with the Lord. The two women assigned to this task begin to strip her body, only to have the tumor fall off in their hands–a pig’s bladder attached with binding. Confused, they peel away the old woman’s clothes to reveal a tattoo, a magnificant tattoo, of a snake curving across the nun’s body, until its head, that of a gorgeous man, licks at her clitoris.
The mystery is on.
Alessandra is the daughter of a wealthy cloth merchant. She has the heart of an artist, and has taught herself to draw, though nothing can come of it–only men can be artists. She is also too tall, ill-mannered, and maladroit at womanly arts. Her brothers tease her mercilessly that she will never find a husband. Alessandra knows that her odds are very poor… but she’s more focused on securing the opinion of the painter her father hires to paint the family chapel. She wants his assessment of her work, inexpert as her drawings are.
Any chaperoned time between them could ruin her. He himself is afraid of women, being raised among celibate friars. Still, Alessandra dares him to speak to her. Their budding romance is hot under the skin…
But then she marries, and life changes drastically. Her husband is perfect in so many ways–a collector of art who indulges her passion, a learned man who loves that she is well-read, a rich man who is kind. Perfect in all ways but the most crucial of all.
Miserable and isolated in her own home, Alessandra nearly chokes on her own jealous, angry bile.
Until an artist re-enters her life, and the game of chess being played out among the political elite of Florence imposes its rules on her family.
Beautifully written. Excellent characters. Unpredictable twists. Gut-wrenching lies. All played against the backdrop of Florence, when the Medicis have fallen and the priest Savonarola is bringing fire and brimstone down on the lavish Renaissance men.
I enjoyed it VERY much, and I’m hoping that her next is as good.
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