It brings alive the history of florence at its most dramatic period, telling a compulsively absorbing story of love, art, religion, and power through the passionate voice of alessandra, a heroine with the same vibrancy of spirit as her beloved city. The birth of venus by sarah dunant fantastic fiction. Free download or read online the birth of venus pdf epub book. Sarah dunants gorgeous and mesmerizing novel, birth of venus, draws readers into a turbulent 15thcentury florence, a time when the lavish city, steeped in years.
It brings alive the history of florence at its most dramatic period, telling a compulsively absorbing story of love, art, religion, and power through the passionate voice of alessandra, a heroine with the same. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 427 pages and is available in paperback format. Buy a cheap copy of the birth of venus book by sarah dunant. My fab fifties life the birth of venus novel by sarah. The birth of venus is clearly intended to appeal to a popular audience and will be compared to various recent historical novels about passionate and courageous women who resist the. The painting is in the uffizi gallery in florence, italy. Sarah dunant, the british bestselling novelist, has penned a delectable and extremely tempting historical fiction, the birth of venus that is set against the backdrop of the renaissance florence and that which revolves around a young 14 year old girl who is not beautiful or skilled like her elder sister, yet her talent and eye for art and mind for translating languages is extraordinary but with. A luminous and lush novel, the birth of venus, at its heart, is a mysterious and sensual story with razorsharp teeth. The birth of venus by sarah dunant smart bitches, trashy. It brings alive the history of florence at its most dramatic period, telling a compulsively absorbing story of. Not the official site for uffizi a guide to the uffizi gallery by locals that love art. The birth of venus novel by sarah durant reading wednesday. The character of alessandra was born when sarah dunant, who owns a home in florence, discovered a lack of records about women artists during the fifteenth century. Dunant puts me in mind of a wellfed, quickwitted house cat, crouched before the mouse hole of history.
The first edition of the novel was published in 2003, and was written by sarah dunant. Certainly the birth of venus has given me a lot to think about, and has left me with the feeling that i learned quite a bit something every good historical novel should do. A young florentine girl, alessandra cecchi, is drawn to a young painter commissioned to paint the familys chapel walls. The birth of venus did not disappoint me for a pageturning summer read.
Instead, alessandra is expected to marry and give birth to many children. Detective stories, thrillers and historical novels have been pressed into service to. It is a novel of love and betrayal, but also a novel of personal growth that modern readers will have little trouble relating to. The birth of venus, by sarah dunant bonfire of the vanities. Saarh dunany has dived into a rich seam of tuscan history with her latest novel. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the birth of venus. The names of the era evoke a heady brew made up of. The birth of venus by sandro botticelli is located, as the allegory of spring, in the halls 1014 of the uffizi gallery. The birth of venus pdf download full pdf read book page. The birth of venus, by sarah dunant the independent. The birth of venus sarah dunant, 2003 random house 416 pp. Its funny how you remember some people she always had very distinctive glasses. Story imageryeleganceintelligence, in such a readable way, i flew through it or.
Like alessandra, dunant has a painters eyeher writing is rich and evocative, luxuriating in colors and textures of the city, the people, and the art of 15thcentury florence. The main characters of this historical, historical fiction story are alessandra cecci, tomaso cecci. This handy 180 day 6 month daily planner notebook will help you organize your entire day, both at work and in your. The birth of venus by sarah dunant books the guardian.
The birth of venus by sarah dunant smart bitches, trashy books. The birth of venus is a historical novel that takes the reader on a journey through thirteenth century florence through the eyes of a young woman who is both courageous and innocent. Sarah dunants gem of a book, the birth of venus, is a brilliant period piece written painted on the page with all the fire of oils then finished off with a glow emanating from the veneer that comes after being highly glazed. Alessandra cecchi is the daughter of a prominent fabric merchant in. The birth of venus by sarah dunant 412pp, little, brown. A novel is a 2003 novel by sarah dunant, a bestselling british author. As soon as i finished this book i wanted to go straight back and read it all over again. The birth of venus novel who is the painter 27 discussion posts. In this exhilarating cross between the da vinci code and the birth of venus, an irrepressible young woman in 15thcentury italy must flee for her life after stumbling upon a deadly secret when she. The part that kept me up is whats keeping the book from getting an a. This novel is set in thirteenthcentury florence where twelveyearold alessandra desperately wants to become an artist.
In the declining years of the rule of the medici over renaissance florence, an atmosphere of enlightenment and sophistication prevailed. Sarah dunant, the author of eight widely praised thrillers, has switched allegiance with the birth of venus, a seductive and ambitious novel set in late 15thcentury florence. The birth of venus is a novel by author sarah dunant. However, it is inappropriate for a young girl to be educated, let alone pursue a passion like art. Genre writing has provided fertile ground for feminist fiction. The birth of venus by sarah dunant, paperback barnes. The birth of venus by sarah dunant book cover, description, publication history. Pdf the birth of venus by sarah dunant download pdf. I cannot seem to remember if i came across it or not. It depicts the goddess venus arriving at the shore after her birth, when she had emerged from the sea fullygrown called venus anadyomene and often depicted in art. The story is set in the late 15th century in florence, italy. The birth of venus breathes life into the history of florence its art, philosophy, religion and politics but it is clearly alessandras story. The birth of venus by sarah dunant i first knew sarah dunant as a broadcaster on latenight arts shows in the late 1990s.
The birth of venus hymn, painting, poem, book beyond. It was first published by little, brown in 2003 with the title the birth of venus. Alessandra cecchi is not quite fifteen when her father, a pro. Author sarah dunants historical novel the birth of venus is set in 15thcentury florence. Detective stories, thrillers and historical novels have been. It gave flesh and feeling to a time and place that id pretty much ignored ubtil viewing. The birth of venus by sarah dunant the birth of venus. Sarah dunant turning fifteen in renaissance florence, alessandra cecchi becomes intoxicated with the works of a young painter whom her father has brought to the city to decorate the familys florentine palazzo. The birth of venus by sarah dunant is a fascinating novel that takes place in 1492 when the main character, alessandra cecchi, was 14 years old. Alessandra had a love for art and philosophy, but as the youngest daughter of a wealthy cloth merchant, she was unable to express her wisdom in the company of others.
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