The Birth of Venus

When Alessandra Cecchi's wealthy textile trader father hires a young painter from northern Europe to adorn the chapel walls of the family's Florentine home, Alessandra is not quite fifteen years old. Alessandra, a Renaissance youngster with an acute intellect and artistic ability, is enthralled by the painter's skills.

But as their love is taking off, Alessandra's parents force her to marry an older, richer guy. In the meanwhile, Savonarola, the fundamentalist monk, is gradually imposing more and more repression on Florence, which is causing him to gain both governmental and ecclesiastical authority. Between the hellfire preaching and growing violence of Savonarola's reactionary followers and the Medici state, with its love of luxury, erudition, and brilliant art, are Alessandra and her home city. Alessandra's marital life is a misery when it is played out against this volatile background, but it gives her a surprising amount of freedom to follow her intense connection to the young painter and his work.

The Birth of Venus, the first historical book from one of Britain's most inventive literary thriller authors, is a masterpiece. It vividly depicts Florence's history during one of its most dramatic eras and tells an engrossing tale of power, love, art, and religion through the impassioned voice of Alessandra, a heroine who has the same vitality of spirit as her beloved city.