In the Company of the Courtesan (Paperback)

The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett 4.4 out of 5 stars (76)  £3.49

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Review
'There is no more accomplished guide to Renaissance Italy than Sarah Dunant. After taking us to Florence in The Birth of Venus, she moves on to Venice with In the Company of the Courtesan . . . Dunant has a sharp eye for the tawdry attractions of the carnal canal city, and a keen nose for hypocrisy, especially in the Church. . . Dunant creates a large cast of vivid characters, none more so than La Draga, the blind healer, whose fate provides the novel's climax. . .This is an enthralling novel that will give the reader as much pleasure as Fiammetta does her clients' Michael Arditti, Daily Mail 'In the Company of the Courtesan demonstrates again Dunant's fascination with Renaissance Italy. The novel is avidly researched, but Dunant adds life to the 'true' story through her colourful characters. Most interesting is the sexual politics of the time, particularly the presentation of the daily habits of a courtesan, a lifestyle fuelled by greed and pleasure' Claudia Webb, Financial Times 'The backdrop is the real success. Historical and geographical details are used sparingly and the effect is lovely. Almost in passing, we discover that Fiametta is the model for Titian's sensual Venus of Urbino. Venice's glassmaking features in a jewel forgery, in a mirror merchant's gift to Fiammetta and in a strange twist involving an early form of contact lens. . .Vibrancy is achieved without the heroes becoming caricatures in a cartoon Renaissance . . .Her knack for drawing such satisfying yarns from the canals and cattedrali means it could be a long time before her readers tire of her' Alice Fordham, The Times 'In the Company of the Courtesan is set just decades after Dunant's phenomenally successful The Birth of Venus. . . Once again, the author's phenomenal attention to detail is present throughout. This book is vividly atmospheric, mesmerising the reader into feeling right at home in 16th-century Venice. Bucino makes for a strong but tragic narrator. Page after page, he draws the reader into Venice's seamy underworld. The pace of the novel snowballs towards the end, leaving the reader feeling satisfied, but hungry for more from his talented storyteller' Daily Express 'Dunant's last novel, The Birth of Venus, was a delight, a full-blooded, unsqueamish tale of Florence under Savonarola. In the Company of the Courtesan shares its impeccable research and wonderful tone: saucy without being addle-brained; jaundiced without being sour . . . this is good ribald fun' Patrick Ness, Daily Telegraph 'Sarah Dunant's gorgeous novel...This is the best kind of historical novel. Ms Dunant never makes the common mistake of describing as surprising factual details that would have been ordinary to contemporaries ...her story blends beauty and brutality into an intimate and thrilling portrait of an age' Lisa Hilton, Sunday Telegraph 'A superb portrayal of Renaissance Italy that's not to be missed' Fanny Blake in 'Great Reading' - feature: 'We love.. ' Woman & Home

Product Description
1527. While the Papal city of Rome burns - brutally sacked by an invading army including Protestant heretics - two of her most interesting and wily citizens slip away, their stomachs churning on the jewels they have swallowed as the enemy breaks down their doors. Though almost as damaged as their beloved city, Fiammetta Bianchini and Bucino Teodoldi - a fabulous courtesan and her dwarf companion - are already planning their future. They head for the shimmering beauty of Venice, a honey pot of wealth and trade where they start to rebuild their business. As a partnership they are invincible: Bucino, clever with a sharp eye and a wicked tongue and Fiammetta, beautiful and shrewd, trained from birth to charm, entertain and satisfy men who have the money to support her. Venice, however, is a city which holds its own temptations. From the admiring Turk in search of human novelties for his Sultan's court, to the searing passion of a young lover who wants more than his allotted nights. But the greatest challenge comes from a young blind woman, a purveyor of health and beauty, who insinuates her way into their lives with devastating consequences for them all.

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2 Reviews 5 star:  (2) 4 star:    (0) 3 star:    (0) 2 star:    (0) 1 star:    (0)           Average Customer Review 5.0 out of 5 stars (2 customer reviews)		Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
Most Helpful Customer Reviews   3 of 3 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting and atmospheric : 4 1/2 stars., 23 Aug 2006 By  MaryAnne "dubai-reader" (Dubai United Arab Emirates) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)       Last year I read Sarah Dunant's 'The Birth of Venus', it was my book of the year and I didn't want it to end. It was a hard act to follow and although I enjoyed 'In the Company of the Courtesan', it didn't quite reach the grade. The book covered a lot of ground; from the ransacking of Rome in 1527, through the exile of the courtesan Fiammetta Bianchini and her dwarf companion, Bucino, to their eventual arrival in Venice and their subsequent struggles to establish themselves with little financial provision. The characters are wonderful and beautifully described, as is the feel of the watery wonderland / slum that was Venice at the time. My main problem with the book were the passages of philosophical discussion on subjects such as the morals of prostitution and who is actually the sinner. Without these this would have been a masterpiece. Sarah Dunant has established herself in the genre of historical fiction and I shall certainly be eagerly awaiting her next book. Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)   2 of 4 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars A Gutsy, Vulgar, but Extremely Enjoyable Read, 21 Mar 2007 By  J. Chippindale (England) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    For many years Sarah Dunant presented the late show. She is also the author of seven crime novels and creator of her famous sleuth, Hannah Wolfe. I found this book much, much more enjoyable than I expected it to be, so it was a really pleasant surprise. This is in no way a slight on the writing capabilities of the author, who has proved her calibre with several previous offerings. The problem was that initially the subject matter of the book did not really appeal to me, but my mind was soon changed. The book is about life in Renaissance Italy and begins with the sacking of the eternal city of Rome by the armies of the Holy Roman Emperor and the subsequent journey of the courtesan Fiammetta Bianchini and her dwarf companion Bucino, as they leave Rome with their stomachs full of the jewels they have swallowed and head for the city of Venice. How they manage to infiltrate themselves into Venetian society. Together they make the ideal partnership. On the one hand the quick witted and intelligent Bucino, on the other his mistress Fiammetta, a beautiful woman, trained in the art of entertaining and satisfying men who have the money to support her. This is a story of desire, deception, sin, loyalty, in fact everything that men and women bring out in one another, sometimes with heartbreaking and devastating consequences. Beautifully written, sometimes witty, sometimes sad, but always interesting. Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this) Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review › See all 2 customer reviews...		Ad feedback   Search Customer Reviews Only search this product's reviews

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