City of Masks (Stravaganza) [Paperback]

Mary Hoffman has in Stravaganza: City of Masks produced a fine, complex time-slip novel filled with a love, passion and intrigue that crosses boundaries between past and present with an undeniable eloquence and sophistication.

Lucien, a 21st century boy, is dying of cancer. As he drifts in and out of consciousness in his hospital bed during a particularly difficult course of treatment, he finds himself wandering the streets of Bellezza, a beautiful city similar to Venice and filled with riches and danger.

As he fights the disease that is eating away at his young life, becoming stronger at first, but then weakening as his cancer begins to take a serious hold, his new life in Bellezza becomes increasingly more real and he finds himself at the centre of an age old battle between good an evil on the streets of the city ruled by the mysterious Duchessa. In the midst of Lucien's confusion he encounters Arianna, a wilful girl intent on breaking all the rules. And as their friendship turns slowly to love, and their relationship becomes an integral part of Bellezza's complex history, Lucien realises that he may have no choice about whether to stay in the city, or return to his own life and the parents he adores.

Beautifully written and spilling over with rich, diverse images of an elegant, lush city bathed in history and tradition, Mary Hoffman cleverly switches between the harsh, clinical reality of Lucien's 21st century illness and the sumptuous views of an opulent culture languishing somewhere in time. Clever, alluring and with a moving and unexpected ending that will leave the satisfied reader breathless, this stunning book cries out for a sequel. Age 11-14.--Susan Harrison. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

"This is gripping fare - loves found and lost, old scores settled, secrets created and revealed." --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

City of Masks is a poignant, touching and exciting novel, difficult to put down. This is one of the best time-slip stories that I have read in recent years. Without doubt a masterwork of contemporary children's literature. ' Edgardo Zaghini Children's Literature Officer, Booktrust 'One of the most exciting adventures I've read in years.' Wendy Cooling, Best Books for Christmas in the Children's Bookseller

Set in a parallel world, where Italy is called Talia and Venice is called Bellezza, the narrative follows Lucien, who in our world is very ill. Given a marbled notebook to help him communicate when his throat hurts too much to speak, the notebook is the means that transports Lucien to this magical, dangerous new world set in an alternative sixteenth century, and thrills to the delight of political intrigue and danger of assassination attempts both foiled and successful. The parallel Venice is astonishingly evoked, with the silks and velvets, the sensuousness of the food and the elegance of the city and its waterways all beautifully and powerfully described. The world of Talia is unforgettably and convincingly real.

‘On a day trip to Venice ten years ago, we took a gondola ride along the grand Canal, like everybody else, and I thought what a pity that out gondolier wasn’t young and handsome. Then nearly five years ago, that idea came back with a whole flood of other ideas. What if there were another Venice where all the gondoliers were young and handsome, because they were chosen by the city’s ruler – not a Doge but a Duchessa …? This daydreaming brought birth the city of Bellezza.’ --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Mary Hoffman is a best-selling children's author and reviewer. She is the author of the picture book 'Amazing Grace' which is an international best-seller. She is a complete aficionado of Italy - all her love for Italy has been infused into this series. Mary is also the editor of Armadillo, a children's revew magazine. She has three grown-up children and lives with her husband in Carterton, outside Oxford.