SubscribeThis is the best book I have read in a long time! If you enjoyed Birth of Venus by Dunnant (I think), you will enjoy Leonardo’s Swans by Essex. Its what I would call “historical fiction”, and based on the lives of two sisters, Isabella and Beatrice, who actually existed. Both were alive in Italy around the time of the Rennaisance. Both were born to a very rich family, and both were bethrothed to men they had not met, when each girl was 5 or 6 years old. The entire story is from the viewpoints of one or the other of the sisters.
Isabella, blond, thin, intelligent and refined, is to marry a Marquis, when she turns 15. Francesco is handsome, despite being short, and having bulging eyes. He is also very charismatic, and young (about 25 or so). He pays a lot of attention to Isabella, “courting her” before the two are married. Beatrice, on the other hand, who is shorter, plumper, less educated, but much more adept with horses, is to be wed to a 40 year old Duke, who ignores her, and continually pushes off the wedding date. Everyone knows the Duke has a mistress, who he has been treating as a wife, and who might be pregnant. At first glance, it seems that Isabella has the better match, by nothing more than a twist of fate. As the story goes on, things change around, until by the end, its impossible to say which of the two sisters really had a better life.
The book is much more than just a report of the two sisters romances, though! It is filled with vivid descriptions. Of the different parts of Italy, of the clothing the women are wearing, the horses they ride, the homes they live in, and, much more importantly, of the art they commission. The Duke has an employed an artist to create sculptures and painting for him, and its none other than the Great Leonardo Da Vinci! If you are at all familiar with his work, you will be delighted by the descriptions in this story. The actual history about who appears in his paintings is woven into the story masterfully. Its a treat to view the paintings through Isabella’s eyes, who sees them all as brand new and miraculous.
As if that were not enough for one book, Essex adds more. The book is filled with political intrigue! Many small and large power struggles are going on in the years the book takes place, and Essex has described them as they occured in a very interesting way! Some of it is like watching a chess match, some is like watching a soap opera.
I think this book should be available soon. I got to read an advanced copy because I work at a bookstore. Whenever it is available, rush out and get it! You won’t be disapointed!
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Uh, is this book about like, the Da Vinci Code or something?
Comment by Shawno 01.10.06 @ 10:41 pm