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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Maxwell's fanciful tale begins as Caterina, daughter of the local apothecary (and secret alchemist), is seduced by well born, up and coming notary Piero da Vinci. Piero promises marriage, but backs down when his family forbids it, although they do remove Caterina's son Leonardo to raise in their household. Strong willed Caterina finds a way to be with her son anyway and when he leaves for Florence to learn his craft, Caterina disguises herself as a man and masquerades as Leonardo's uncle Cato. Cato/Caterina soon finds herself best friends and intellectual acquaintance (!!) with Lorenzo Medici. As Leonardo's genius and talent continues to grow so does the power of evil priest Girolamo Savonarola and Caterina, Leonardo and Lorenzo find themselves in the midst of a plot to expose the priest for the hypocrite that he is.
All well and good, but there are some definite flaws. How low born Caterina could have been so highly educated by her father that she was able to pass among the intellectual elite of Florence is quite a stretch. Swapping letters with the Pope!!?? How was "he" able to join Lorenzo and his male associates in the common baths without taking "his" clothes off? Let alone wherever they traveled and whoever's home they stayed in she slept with him? How'd they explain that? Oops, they didn't, nor did the author. Frankly, Caterina was just too much over the top in intelligence, perfection, goodness and 21C superwoman to be quite believable.
This is very much a "what if" novel and should be read as such and not historical fact. As to how the lives of the rest of the historical characters are portrayed in this book? I haven't a clue, but I did enjoy Lorenzo's character (he was quite a hunk), as well as the young up and coming Leonardo and his never ending search for knowledge. Sorry, but despite the hype I'm giving this one three stars.
All well and good, but there are some definite flaws. How low born Caterina could have been so highly educated by her father that she was able to pass among the intellectual elite of Florence is quite a stretch. Swapping letters with the Pope!!?? How was "he" able to join Lorenzo and his male associates in the common baths without taking "his" clothes off? Let alone wherever they traveled and whoever's home they stayed in she slept with him? How'd they explain that? Oops, they didn't, nor did the author. Frankly, Caterina was just too much over the top in intelligence, perfection, goodness and 21C superwoman to be quite believable.
This is very much a "what if" novel and should be read as such and not historical fact. As to how the lives of the rest of the historical characters are portrayed in this book? I haven't a clue, but I did enjoy Lorenzo's character (he was quite a hunk), as well as the young up and coming Leonardo and his never ending search for knowledge. Sorry, but despite the hype I'm giving this one three stars.
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I was transported to another land & another time by this fantastic book.The pages came alive as I read them & as I met great names from history, I even once let out a gasp as I felt as if I really was in their presence! My thanks to Robin Maxwell for not only an absolutely fabulous tale, but also for teaching me so much about those times in Italy. I really appreciate now how lucky we are that so many old Italian art works etc have still survived.So much research must have gone into this book about the history of Da Vinci's time, it is great to have it all wrapped up in an absorbing tale. Now guess what? I have raved so much about Robin Maxwell's books that my husband is now reading it for himself! I would urge others to read it too.
Format:Paperback
I have always enjoyed all the author's explorations into the past. And this time, I really do feel that she has excelled herself. Robin Maxwell's lavish amalgam of research and imagination throws a brilliant light on the dark side of the Italian Renaissance. I'll never think of Leonardo or Botticelli in the same way again. Her creation of the character of Caterina, from the merest threads of fact, into a whole cloth of historical fiction, is masterful, and her portrayal of Lorenzo The Magnificent and the entire Medici clan is as powerful and momentous as any I have read. I completely and unreservedly recommend this book.
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