The Marriage Portrait

New York Times Best Seller; Reese's Book Club Pick; Women's Prize for Fiction Finalist; In this remarkable fictional depiction of the alluring young princess Lucrezia de' Medici navigating a turbulent court, the author of the critically acclaimed Hamnet brings the world of Renaissance Italy to life.

Fiume, around 1550. Lucrezia, the grand duke's third daughter, is content to live in the background, marvel at its artifacts, study its inner workings, and focus on her own creative endeavors. Lucrezia is unintentionally thrown into the spotlight when her elder sister passes away on the day of her wedding to the Duke of Ferrara, Modena, and Reggio. Her father promptly accepts the duke's request for Lucrezia's hand in marriage.

Lucrezia, who has hardly escaped childhood, is now forced to join an unknown court with murky traditions and an unwelcoming populace. The most mysterious of all, perhaps, is her new spouse, Alfonso. Is he the flirtatious sophisticate he seemed to be before their marriage, the aesthetic who finds happiness in the company of musicians and artists, or the cunning politician who makes even his strong sisters cower?

One thing becomes alarmingly obvious as Lucrezia sits in confining elegance for a painting meant to preserve her image for decades to come. She has the obligation to produce the successor who would secure the Ferranese dynasty's future in the eyes of the court. Until then, the destiny of the new duchess, with all her dignity and status, is completely uncertain.

With all the grace and passion that she used to adorn Hamnet's Shakespearean canvas, Maggie O'Farrell applies her artistic skills to Renaissance Italy to create a remarkable portrayal of a strong young lady fighting for her own life.