His Last Duchess
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Product Description
Review
Gabrielle Kimm writes with a charm that entices us into a world of intrigue and dark undertones. She creates a passionate love story that gets under your skin, intimate and touching, against a backdrop of danger and treachery. Her vivid portrayal of Medici life is rich and wonderfully imagined, as she draws a skilful portrait of a fascinating time and place (Kate Furnivall, author of THE RUSSIAN CONCUBINE )
So captivating you'll wish you owned a lace bodice, waiting to be untied! (Now )
Fascinating . . . A gripping read, set against a backdrop of danger and treachery (Star magazine )
A stunning debut, rich in historical detail, that explores women's freedom, forbidden love and the passions and people of 16th century Tuscany and Ferrara (Irish News )
A stunning debut, rich in historical detail (Woman's Way )
So captivating you'll wish you owned a lace bodice, waiting to be untied! (Now )
Fascinating . . . A gripping read, set against a backdrop of danger and treachery (Star magazine )
A stunning debut, rich in historical detail, that explores women's freedom, forbidden love and the passions and people of 16th century Tuscany and Ferrara (Irish News )
A stunning debut, rich in historical detail (Woman's Way )
Book Description
* A darkly seductive and luscious story of forbidden love set in 16th century Italy * Shoutline: A marriage of convenience comes with ties that bind
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
34 of 37 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
"His Last Duchess" is a wonderfully evocative picture of 16th Century Italy, combined with a touching love story and a thrilling who-dun-it plot, that I couldn't put down! Gabrielle Kimm was inspired to write this book by Browning's sinister poem,"My Last Duchess", in which the speaker, Alfonso d'Este, is describing the portrait of the woman to whom he was married; as the poem unfolds, we realise that her demise may not have been natural! Indeed, historically, Lucrezia di Medici, who was the Duchess in question, vanished from sight three years after her marriage to d'Este, and there are no historical records of what happened to her. Kimm has taken this enigmatic poem, and spun a captivating possibile explanation of it, telling the story with vivid language, and painting unforgettable pictures, which linger in the memory long after the end - which I won't give away! Her research is meticulous (for example, the descriptions of fresco painting, from preparation to completion, are fascinating), and her scene setting has the immediacy and clarity of cinema, so that I found myself almost watching the novel, as the plot unfolded. Kimm is to be congratulated on a first novel that combines the elements of history, romance and mystery in one very readable and thoroughly enjoyable whole. I look forward very much to the next book.
15 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Historical fiction isn't normally my first choice of reading, but this book has made me reconsider my options. Not only is is very well written (the carefully chosen similes are particularly effective), but it shows great depth of research into C16 century Italy and leaves you with far greater historical knowledge than you started out with (in my case, anyway!). The historical detail is not just tagged on, but is essential to the plot. It is often cleverly used, so that we gain great insights into the art of fresco painting, for example, which is key to the storyline, but, because of the great detail, it acts as a brake to the pace, to keep us in more suspense. This novel is a mixture of romance and dark doings, the most effectively drawn character being the complex Duke Alfonso. When he features, the pages spring to life. Is he the Italian Heathcliff? Although the book is undoubtedly a great page turner, it stays with you once you have finished it. An excellent first novel.
24 of 27 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
If you want a really good read, His Last Duchess is just what you need.
I took this book on holiday and was captivated by the wonderful descriptions and attention to detail that Gabrielle Kimm has captured in her first novel. Sixteenth Century Italy really came alive for me, as did the characters.
As a set designer, I visualise books in terms of potential films and this book really inspired my imaginative side. Gabrielle has researched thoroughly, and has written an intriguing story with twists and turns and a definite dark side to the narrative, which holds your attention right up until its final climax.
I really enjoyed this book and cant wait for the next one.
I took this book on holiday and was captivated by the wonderful descriptions and attention to detail that Gabrielle Kimm has captured in her first novel. Sixteenth Century Italy really came alive for me, as did the characters.
As a set designer, I visualise books in terms of potential films and this book really inspired my imaginative side. Gabrielle has researched thoroughly, and has written an intriguing story with twists and turns and a definite dark side to the narrative, which holds your attention right up until its final climax.
I really enjoyed this book and cant wait for the next one.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
horrible historic mistakes
I enjoyed reading the book but I had to pretend that it wasn't about Lucrezia Borgia. I am Italian and studied Italian history. Read more
Published 6 days ago by Angela Puddu
Over hyped and lacked real substance
The story centres around the marriage of Lucrezia di Medici to the Duke of Ferrara and the rumours surrounding her early death. Read more
Published 3 months ago by C. M. Carragher
excellent book
This book is excellent. It should be a best seller. I think it holds up against writers such as Phillipa Gregory. Read more
Published 5 months ago by sea horse
Everything you'd want from an Historical Novel!
His Last Duchess is the debut novel by Author Gabrielle Kimm.
At just 16 years of age, it is Lucrezia de' Medici destiny to marry the fifth Duke of Ferrara, Alfonso... Read more
At just 16 years of age, it is Lucrezia de' Medici destiny to marry the fifth Duke of Ferrara, Alfonso... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Lougrahamii
Massively Recommended Read
From the very first word to the very last word, I loved this book. I was entertained, educated and entranced. Read more
Published 6 months ago by S. C. Uden
Magical!
It's very rare that an author can take something as amazing and timeless as a poem such as Browning's and turn it into a successful novel. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Alana The Geek :)
A very clever book
I read this book - which I was attracted to by the title which refers to a favourite Robert Browning poem - over two gloriously hot, sunny October days sitting by the Thames near... Read more
Published 7 months ago by John Harding - Author
Pure Historical Escapism
I have to admit this isn't a genre I'm familiar with, but His Last Duchess turned out to be the perfect accompaniment to our unexpected balmy Indian summer. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Avid Reader
Absolutely Love It!!!
A truly fabulous rollercoaster of a read, His Last Duchess by Gabrielle Kimm is an authoritative and assured insight into sixteenth century Italy, as well as being a pacy,... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Sarah2001
Did i read a different book?
I bought this book after reading the reviews on amazon and also the cover looked good. It started off ok but the more i read the more ridiculous it got - even for a fiction... Read more
Published 8 months ago by sara1
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