A very slow book, 19 Oct 2008
A very slow book to read, I did not like it very much but on the plus side, the author was very good at description - the windswept moor of Bodmin, the heavy rain but other than that it did not hold my interest.

Dark, rich and atmospheric!, 02 Oct 2008
This book lives up to expectations. It is a gothic tale based in Cornwall where the courage of the 'heroine' (Mary Yellan) is in constant battle with her dark surroundings - Jamaica Inn itself and the isolated moors with their treacherous bogs. There is a sense of panic and peril present throughout the book and you can easily relate to Mary's plight. She suffers terribly in the novel and parts of it seem like a nightmare race against time from which she cannot waken.
Du Maurier has created a heroine designed with a high commitment to morality. Even when she knows she has virtually no chance of success, she will still risk her life in an attempt to protect others more vulnerable than herself - the attempt matters more than the result!
Note though that the ending is not what we would expect in a more 'modern' story - it is an ending that is appropriate for the age when the book was written - bear that in mind when you read it and you won't be disappointed.

a book I really disliked!, 14 Jul 2008
This book doesn't resemble at all Rebecca or My cousin Rachel (which I liked); the atmosphere is oppressive and the heroin is always putting herself in danger deliberatly. (as if she had a death wish)
But then, she's attracted by the "hero" (if you can call that a hero) who again and again (at least, he's honest) tells her about all his defects, thaht he's no better than his brother (a real prince of a man, this one), that he's no good...and still she falls in love with him.
Why? I don't know.
But since there's a parallel between this couple and another couple (the aunt and uncle), the reader is meant to understand that she will have a harsh life at the very least...She obsviously chose a bad guy, and will pay it her whole life...most depressing book!

A really good book, 15 May 2008
I don't get that much time to read these days but I started this book this morning and the whole day has been a write-off because I couldn't put it down, which tells you how good a story it is. The family have had to sort themselves out! So curl up on the sofa and treat yourself to a good read.

WOW -- fabulous story, great suspense!, 13 Jan 2008
As this story opens, Mary Yellan's mother dies leaving this young adult on her own in a dangerous time. On her deathbed her mother tells her to go live with her Aunt Patience at an inn called Jamaica Inn near the Cornish coast (Corwall, England). Immediately upon arrival at Jamaica Inn she knows something is wrong since her once colorful Aunt Patience has turned into a simpering wimp and her Uncle Joss Merlyn is a towering cruel character with dubious past and present. Soon Mary learns about criminal activities surrounding Jamaica Inn and it's inhabitants. She is drawn into a mystery so intense and frightening that she'll brave the trecherous moors to escape.

This is one Daphne Du Maurier's best books. Don't miss this tale of twisted greed and terrible peril -- this is an EXCELLENT book that'll keep you up past your bedtime as you won't be able to put this book down! Buy it! This book earned itself a permanent place on my shelf!

The Birth of Venus is all the more fascinating a historical novel for the author's inability to make up her mind what it is about. Is it a novel about the limited choices available to a woman with talent in Renaissance Florence--marriage or the convent? Or is it a novel about the choices you make to survive in a totalitarian society? As Savonarola takes Florence closer and closer to being an ascetic theocracy, Alessandra, her gay brother and his lover whom she has married for mutual protection find themselves in more and more peril. It could also be a detective story--Allesandra is in love with a painter whose religious mania and fascination with the body makes him a plausible suspect for a series of killings and dismemberments. Some historical novels wear their research too heavily--Dunant's is light, fluent and pacy, but her fascination with the possibilities revealed by research leaves her failing to make choices.

The Birth of Venus is a highly intelligent novel kept from incoherence mostly by the intensely imagined Alessandra, through whose eyes we see the tragic end of a key moment in human culture and whose lively sensibility constantly sparks ideas about art and her time. --Roz Kaveney

A very slow book, 19 Oct 2008
A very slow book to read, I did not like it very much but on the plus side, the author was very good at description - the windswept moor of Bodmin, the heavy rain but other than that it did not hold my interest.

Dark, rich and atmospheric!, 02 Oct 2008
This book lives up to expectations. It is a gothic tale based in Cornwall where the courage of the 'heroine' (Mary Yellan) is in constant battle with her dark surroundings - Jamaica Inn itself and the isolated moors with their treacherous bogs. There is a sense of panic and peril present throughout the book and you can easily relate to Mary's plight. She suffers terribly in the novel and parts of it seem like a nightmare race against time from which she cannot waken.
Du Maurier has created a heroine designed with a high commitment to morality. Even when she knows she has virtually no chance of success, she will still risk her life in an attempt to protect others more vulnerable than herself - the attempt matters more than the result!
Note though that the ending is not what we would expect in a more 'modern' story - it is an ending that is appropriate for the age when the book was written - bear that in mind when you read it and you won't be disappointed.

a book I really disliked!, 14 Jul 2008
This book doesn't resemble at all Rebecca or My cousin Rachel (which I liked); the atmosphere is oppressive and the heroin is always putting herself in danger deliberatly. (as if she had a death wish)
But then, she's attracted by the "hero" (if you can call that a hero) who again and again (at least, he's honest) tells her about all his defects, thaht he's no better than his brother (a real prince of a man, this one), that he's no good...and still she falls in love with him.
Why? I don't know.
But since there's a parallel between this couple and another couple (the aunt and uncle), the reader is meant to understand that she will have a harsh life at the very least...She obsviously chose a bad guy, and will pay it her whole life...most depressing book!

A really good book, 15 May 2008
I don't get that much time to read these days but I started this book this morning and the whole day has been a write-off because I couldn't put it down, which tells you how good a story it is. The family have had to sort themselves out! So curl up on the sofa and treat yourself to a good read.

WOW -- fabulous story, great suspense!, 13 Jan 2008
As this story opens, Mary Yellan's mother dies leaving this young adult on her own in a dangerous time. On her deathbed her mother tells her to go live with her Aunt Patience at an inn called Jamaica Inn near the Cornish coast (Corwall, England). Immediately upon arrival at Jamaica Inn she knows something is wrong since her once colorful Aunt Patience has turned into a simpering wimp and her Uncle Joss Merlyn is a towering cruel character with dubious past and present. Soon Mary learns about criminal activities surrounding Jamaica Inn and it's inhabitants. She is drawn into a mystery so intense and frightening that she'll brave the trecherous moors to escape.

This is one Daphne Du Maurier's best books. Don't miss this tale of twisted greed and terrible peril -- this is an EXCELLENT book that'll keep you up past your bedtime as you won't be able to put this book down! Buy it! This book earned itself a permanent place on my shelf!


a pleasant surprise, 27 Nov 2008
I picked this up in a charity shop, I'd never heard of it but the blurb appealed. It sat in my 'to read' pile for a few months before I picked it up.
As soon as I started it I was hooked. I found it fairly easy to read and it was a great story. Gripping, exciting with an interesting historical background and I found the central character appealing and easy to engage with.
I would definitely recommend this book.

A wonderful read, 02 Oct 2008
I read a synopsis for The Birth of Venus in a daily newspaper book club review and, having visited Florence, was interested to pursue this novel. It is a wonderful read and Alessandra has become quite a heroine for me. My book has since done the rounds of quite a few friends and it has been thoroughly enjoyed by all. Quite simply, a must read!

Really engrossing, magical book, 13 Mar 2008
A brilliantly crafted novel. Kept me in suspense until the end. Whetted my apetite for Renaissance art while keeping me intrigued by a juicy plot. The main character, Alessandra, was so easy to fall in love with and I could hardly bear to put it down. Definitely 10 out of 10 - 15th Century Florence just leapt off the page!

A beautiful, seductive novel, 29 Dec 2007
The Birth of Venus is a fantastic historical novel by the acclaimed author, Sarah Dunant. Dunant expertly paints a vivid and compelling picture of Renaissance Florence in a time of religious and political turbulence. In the midst of this turmoil, Alessandra Cecchi is experiencing her own turbulent transitional period into a beautiful young lady with very real feelings of love, passion and intoxicating attraction. From the moment I was introduced to her character I immediately empathised with her, understood her as a person and felt all her emotions from her innate awkwardness and shyness to the seductive, erotic pull that she feels for the forbidden painter. I took pleasure in watching her develop into a confident, independent lady as the novel unraveled. The novel is as full of twists and turns as the squalid streets of Renaissance Florence, and weaves together to form a fantastic, exciting and at times, poignant novel.
I would recommend this novel, and others by Sarah Dunant, to anyone with even a vague interest in historical fiction.

What a lovely book!, 09 Jun 2007
I was given this book as a present and was hooked from page one. Set in Florence during the Reinassance, it is a very believable picture of life back then, described in such vivid, well researched detail. The story itself is mysterious, gripping and moving. Definitely worth reading if you like historical fiction and even if you don't! A page-turner.

A very slow book, 19 Oct 2008
A very slow book to read, I did not like it very much but on the plus side, the author was very good at description - the windswept moor of Bodmin, the heavy rain but other than that it did not hold my interest.

Dark, rich and atmospheric!, 02 Oct 2008
This book lives up to expectations. It is a gothic tale based in Cornwall where the courage of the 'heroine' (Mary Yellan) is in constant battle with her dark surroundings - Jamaica Inn itself and the isolated moors with their treacherous bogs. There is a sense of panic and peril present throughout the book and you can easily relate to Mary's plight. She suffers terribly in the novel and parts of it seem like a nightmare race against time from which she cannot waken.
Du Maurier has created a heroine designed with a high commitment to morality. Even when she knows she has virtually no chance of success, she will still risk her life in an attempt to protect others more vulnerable than herself - the attempt matters more than the result!
Note though that the ending is not what we would expect in a more 'modern' story - it is an ending that is appropriate for the age when the book was written - bear that in mind when you read it and you won't be disappointed.

a book I really disliked!, 14 Jul 2008
This book doesn't resemble at all Rebecca or My cousin Rachel (which I liked); the atmosphere is oppressive and the heroin is always putting herself in danger deliberatly. (as if she had a death wish)
But then, she's attracted by the "hero" (if you can call that a hero) who again and again (at least, he's honest) tells her about all his defects, thaht he's no better than his brother (a real prince of a man, this one), that he's no good...and still she falls in love with him.
Why? I don't know.
But since there's a parallel between this couple and another couple (the aunt and uncle), the reader is meant to understand that she will have a harsh life at the very least...She obsviously chose a bad guy, and will pay it her whole life...most depressing book!

A really good book, 15 May 2008
I don't get that much time to read these days but I started this book this morning and the whole day has been a write-off because I couldn't put it down, which tells you how good a story it is. The family have had to sort themselves out! So curl up on the sofa and treat yourself to a good read.

WOW -- fabulous story, great suspense!, 13 Jan 2008
As this story opens, Mary Yellan's mother dies leaving this young adult on her own in a dangerous time. On her deathbed her mother tells her to go live with her Aunt Patience at an inn called Jamaica Inn near the Cornish coast (Corwall, England). Immediately upon arrival at Jamaica Inn she knows something is wrong since her once colorful Aunt Patience has turned into a simpering wimp and her Uncle Joss Merlyn is a towering cruel character with dubious past and present. Soon Mary learns about criminal activities surrounding Jamaica Inn and it's inhabitants. She is drawn into a mystery so intense and frightening that she'll brave the trecherous moors to escape.

This is one Daphne Du Maurier's best books. Don't miss this tale of twisted greed and terrible peril -- this is an EXCELLENT book that'll keep you up past your bedtime as you won't be able to put this book down! Buy it! This book earned itself a permanent place on my shelf!


a pleasant surprise, 27 Nov 2008
I picked this up in a charity shop, I'd never heard of it but the blurb appealed. It sat in my 'to read' pile for a few months before I picked it up.
As soon as I started it I was hooked. I found it fairly easy to read and it was a great story. Gripping, exciting with an interesting historical background and I found the central character appealing and easy to engage with.
I would definitely recommend this book.

A wonderful read, 02 Oct 2008
I read a synopsis for The Birth of Venus in a daily newspaper book club review and, having visited Florence, was interested to pursue this novel. It is a wonderful read and Alessandra has become quite a heroine for me. My book has since done the rounds of quite a few friends and it has been thoroughly enjoyed by all. Quite simply, a must read!

Really engrossing, magical book, 13 Mar 2008
A brilliantly crafted novel. Kept me in suspense until the end. Whetted my apetite for Renaissance art while keeping me intrigued by a juicy plot. The main character, Alessandra, was so easy to fall in love with and I could hardly bear to put it down. Definitely 10 out of 10 - 15th Century Florence just leapt off the page!

A beautiful, seductive novel, 29 Dec 2007
The Birth of Venus is a fantastic historical novel by the acclaimed author, Sarah Dunant. Dunant expertly paints a vivid and compelling picture of Renaissance Florence in a time of religious and political turbulence. In the midst of this turmoil, Alessandra Cecchi is experiencing her own turbulent transitional period into a beautiful young lady with very real feelings of love, passion and intoxicating attraction. From the moment I was introduced to her character I immediately empathised with her, understood her as a person and felt all her emotions from her innate awkwardness and shyness to the seductive, erotic pull that she feels for the forbidden painter. I took pleasure in watching her develop into a confident, independent lady as the novel unraveled. The novel is as full of twists and turns as the squalid streets of Renaissance Florence, and weaves together to form a fantastic, exciting and at times, poignant novel.
I would recommend this novel, and others by Sarah Dunant, to anyone with even a vague interest in historical fiction.

What a lovely book!, 09 Jun 2007
I was given this book as a present and was hooked from page one. Set in Florence during the Reinassance, it is a very believable picture of life back then, described in such vivid, well researched detail. The story itself is mysterious, gripping and moving. Definitely worth reading if you like historical fiction and even if you don't! A page-turner.

Very satisfying historical novel, 11 Aug 2008
This was chosen by a member of my reading group and was enjoyed by everyone. In fact it was voted our best read of the year! I am a great fan of historical novels as they often provide you with a point of entry into a given period or setting, which you can then follow up for more serious reading. This particular story is a more personal account of a fictional character in a particular location, Venice, in the 16th century. Sarah Dunant writes well and holds your interest throughout. It doesn't quite achieve five stars for me as I would have liked more about some of the real characters who are only touched upon in the book. Nevertheless a very good read.


Tragic but entertaining, 22 Apr 2008
This is a very good book. It is well-written in my opinion. The history is fascinating as are the characters of the dwarf and the courtesan. I feel, however, that the courtesan's character could have been more developed; she only once displayed 'weakness' when waivering from her calling. Bucino, on the other hand, reveals much about his character and his feelings for his Lady. I also wish the character of La Draga had been explored more fully. I feel as though we could have received more insight; however, this was a failing of the narrative device. Having said that, Bucino's point of view was highly entertaining and enlightening. I also thoroughly enjoyed the vivid depiction of Venice. Overall an excellent but not perfect book.

Well researched and written historical fiction, 08 Mar 2008
Don't let the title of this book put you off. It's a very enjoyable and well written piece of historical fiction and there is not a single sex scene in it. Sarah Dunant brings Renaissance Italy to life and skillfully integrates real people and events into this fictional story.

Fiammetta is a high class Italian courtesan in the 1530s, who is forced to flee Rome after the brutal invasion and sacking of the city. She escapes with her faithful servant and companion, the dwarf Bucino, having only a few jewels to her name. It is from Bucino's point of view that the story is told (apart from a brief departure into the third person early on, for no apparent reason).

Bucino and Fiammetta settle in Venice and work together as a team to establish her as one of Venice's leading courtesans. As she becomes more successful, the dynamics of their relationship change subtly.

I enjoyed this book very much. I was caught up in the characters and the decisions that they made. I found the ending very moving and I was sorry to say goodbye to these characters. I also enjoyed finding out more about Renaissance Italy.

The way that Sarah Dunant brings historical figures into the story is very clever and makes it feel very real. About halfway through you realise the significance of the cover illustration. As Sarah Dunant explains in the author's notes, it is a painting by the artist Titian, most probably of an Italian courtesan of that time. In her book, she has Titian painting that very portrait with Fiammetta as his model.

I'd recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading historical fiction. It reminded me of reading books by Philippa Gregory or Rose Tremain (although their books are set in quite different historical eras).

Compelling read, 02 Dec 2007
A compelling historical novel weaved around the sins of pleasure and the pleasure of sins! Set in 16C Italy the main characters are Fiammetta Bianchini, a Courtesan and her dwarf manservant Bucino Teodoldi. The story narrated by Bucino starts with them having to flee from their home in Rome after the city comes under siege. Fiammetta was originally from Venice, so it here that they decide to take refuge and rebuild their business. Together they make a good team, Fiammetta knows of no other life than the entertainment of gentleman, whilst Bucino takes care of the business side of things. To recover from the ravages suffered in Rome to Fiammetta's health and beauty it is necessary for them to call on the services of La Draga. La Draga, Elena Crusichi was a healer, though in those times such a person was often considered a witch.
It was fascinating to read about 16C Italy, with some wonderful descriptions especially of Venice and the various personalities that Fiammetta and Bucino come into contact with. La Draga becomes predictably a very important contact, gaining sympathy from Fiammetta she wheedles her way into their life.
The author has successfully blended fact and fiction with her passion for this particular period of history to tell a story that has some surprise twists along the way. I did guess the outcome, ending but personally felt it was a successful way of bringing the novel to a close.


faith in good writing restored, 19 Nov 2007
After reading and throwing away some aggressively marketed rubbish, most notably the awful Julie Andrews biog and the truly dreadful read - Wish you were here by some bloke I have thankfully erased from my memory - I at last picked up this delicious novel from the bottom of my 'to read' pile. I never looked back. Fascinating, wonderfully written, a page turner with a heroine you love and admire from the first pages, written by her dwarf until it reaches a poignant end. What more could anyone wish for??

A very slow book, 19 Oct 2008
A very slow book to read, I did not like it very much but on the plus side, the author was very good at description - the windswept moor of Bodmin, the heavy rain but other than that it did not hold my interest.

Dark, rich and atmospheric!, 02 Oct 2008
This book lives up to expectations. It is a gothic tale based in Cornwall where the courage of the 'heroine' (Mary Yellan) is in constant battle with her dark surroundings - Jamaica Inn itself and the isolated moors with their treacherous bogs. There is a sense of panic and peril present throughout the book and you can easily relate to Mary's plight. She suffers terribly in the novel and parts of it seem like a nightmare race against time from which she cannot waken.
Du Maurier has created a heroine designed with a high commitment to morality. Even when she knows she has virtually no chance of success, she will still risk her life in an attempt to protect others more vulnerable than herself - the attempt matters more than the result!
Note though that the ending is not what we would expect in a more 'modern' story - it is an ending that is appropriate for the age when the book was written - bear that in mind when you read it and you won't be disappointed.

a book I really disliked!, 14 Jul 2008
This book doesn't resemble at all Rebecca or My cousin Rachel (which I liked); the atmosphere is oppressive and the heroin is always putting herself in danger deliberatly. (as if she had a death wish)
But then, she's attracted by the "hero" (if you can call that a hero) who again and again (at least, he's honest) tells her about all his defects, thaht he's no better than his brother (a real prince of a man, this one), that he's no good...and still she falls in love with him.
Why? I don't know.
But since there's a parallel between this couple and another couple (the aunt and uncle), the reader is meant to understand that she will have a harsh life at the very least...She obsviously chose a bad guy, and will pay it her whole life...most depressing book!

A really good book, 15 May 2008
I don't get that much time to read these days but I started this book this morning and the whole day has been a write-off because I couldn't put it down, which tells you how good a story it is. The family have had to sort themselves out! So curl up on the sofa and treat yourself to a good read.

WOW -- fabulous story, great suspense!, 13 Jan 2008
As this story opens, Mary Yellan's mother dies leaving this young adult on her own in a dangerous time. On her deathbed her mother tells her to go live with her Aunt Patience at an inn called Jamaica Inn near the Cornish coast (Corwall, England). Immediately upon arrival at Jamaica Inn she knows something is wrong since her once colorful Aunt Patience has turned into a simpering wimp and her Uncle Joss Merlyn is a towering cruel character with dubious past and present. Soon Mary learns about criminal activities surrounding Jamaica Inn and it's inhabitants. She is drawn into a mystery so intense and frightening that she'll brave the trecherous moors to escape.

This is one Daphne Du Maurier's best books. Don't miss this tale of twisted greed and terrible peril -- this is an EXCELLENT book that'll keep you up past your bedtime as you won't be able to put this book down! Buy it! This book earned itself a permanent place on my shelf!


a pleasant surprise, 27 Nov 2008
I picked this up in a charity shop, I'd never heard of it but the blurb appealed. It sat in my 'to read' pile for a few months before I picked it up.
As soon as I started it I was hooked. I found it fairly easy to read and it was a great story. Gripping, exciting with an interesting historical background and I found the central character appealing and easy to engage with.
I would definitely recommend this book.

A wonderful read, 02 Oct 2008
I read a synopsis for The Birth of Venus in a daily newspaper book club review and, having visited Florence, was interested to pursue this novel. It is a wonderful read and Alessandra has become quite a heroine for me. My book has since done the rounds of quite a few friends and it has been thoroughly enjoyed by all. Quite simply, a must read!

Really engrossing, magical book, 13 Mar 2008
A brilliantly crafted novel. Kept me in suspense until the end. Whetted my apetite for Renaissance art while keeping me intrigued by a juicy plot. The main character, Alessandra, was so easy to fall in love with and I could hardly bear to put it down. Definitely 10 out of 10 - 15th Century Florence just leapt off the page!

A beautiful, seductive novel, 29 Dec 2007
The Birth of Venus is a fantastic historical novel by the acclaimed author, Sarah Dunant. Dunant expertly paints a vivid and compelling picture of Renaissance Florence in a time of religious and political turbulence. In the midst of this turmoil, Alessandra Cecchi is experiencing her own turbulent transitional period into a beautiful young lady with very real feelings of love, passion and intoxicating attraction. From the moment I was introduced to her character I immediately empathised with her, understood her as a person and felt all her emotions from her innate awkwardness and shyness to the seductive, erotic pull that she feels for the forbidden painter. I took pleasure in watching her develop into a confident, independent lady as the novel unraveled. The novel is as full of twists and turns as the squalid streets of Renaissance Florence, and weaves together to form a fantastic, exciting and at times, poignant novel.
I would recommend this novel, and others by Sarah Dunant, to anyone with even a vague interest in historical fiction.

What a lovely book!, 09 Jun 2007
I was given this book as a present and was hooked from page one. Set in Florence during the Reinassance, it is a very believable picture of life back then, described in such vivid, well researched detail. The story itself is mysterious, gripping and moving. Definitely worth reading if you like historical fiction and even if you don't! A page-turner.

Very satisfying historical novel, 11 Aug 2008
This was chosen by a member of my reading group and was enjoyed by everyone. In fact it was voted our best read of the year! I am a great fan of historical novels as they often provide you with a point of entry into a given period or setting, which you can then follow up for more serious reading. This particular story is a more personal account of a fictional character in a particular location, Venice, in the 16th century. Sarah Dunant writes well and holds your interest throughout. It doesn't quite achieve five stars for me as I would have liked more about some of the real characters who are only touched upon in the book. Nevertheless a very good read.


Tragic but entertaining, 22 Apr 2008
This is a very good book. It is well-written in my opinion. The history is fascinating as are the characters of the dwarf and the courtesan. I feel, however, that the courtesan's character could have been more developed; she only once displayed 'weakness' when waivering from her calling. Bucino, on the other hand, reveals much about his character and his feelings for his Lady. I also wish the character of La Draga had been explored more fully. I feel as though we could have received more insight; however, this was a failing of the narrative device. Having said that, Bucino's point of view was highly entertaining and enlightening. I also thoroughly enjoyed the vivid depiction of Venice. Overall an excellent but not perfect book.

Well researched and written historical fiction, 08 Mar 2008
Don't let the title of this book put you off. It's a very enjoyable and well written piece of historical fiction and there is not a single sex scene in it. Sarah Dunant brings Renaissance Italy to life and skillfully integrates real people and events into this fictional story.

Fiammetta is a high class Italian courtesan in the 1530s, who is forced to flee Rome after the brutal invasion and sacking of the city. She escapes with her faithful servant and companion, the dwarf Bucino, having only a few jewels to her name. It is from Bucino's point of view that the story is told (apart from a brief departure into the third person early on, for no apparent reason).

Bucino and Fiammetta settle in Venice and work together as a team to establish her as one of Venice's leading courtesans. As she becomes more successful, the dynamics of their relationship change subtly.

I enjoyed this book very much. I was caught up in the characters and the decisions that they made. I found the ending very moving and I was sorry to say goodbye to these characters. I also enjoyed finding out more about Renaissance Italy.

The way that Sarah Dunant brings historical figures into the story is very clever and makes it feel very real. About halfway through you realise the significance of the cover illustration. As Sarah Dunant explains in the author's notes, it is a painting by the artist Titian, most probably of an Italian courtesan of that time. In her book, she has Titian painting that very portrait with Fiammetta as his model.

I'd recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading historical fiction. It reminded me of reading books by Philippa Gregory or Rose Tremain (although their books are set in quite different historical eras).

Compelling read, 02 Dec 2007
A compelling historical novel weaved around the sins of pleasure and the pleasure of sins! Set in 16C Italy the main characters are Fiammetta Bianchini, a Courtesan and her dwarf manservant Bucino Teodoldi. The story narrated by Bucino starts with them having to flee from their home in Rome after the city comes under siege. Fiammetta was originally from Venice, so it here that they decide to take refuge and rebuild their business. Together they make a good team, Fiammetta knows of no other life than the entertainment of gentleman, whilst Bucino takes care of the business side of things. To recover from the ravages suffered in Rome to Fiammetta's health and beauty it is necessary for them to call on the services of La Draga. La Draga, Elena Crusichi was a healer, though in those times such a person was often considered a witch.
It was fascinating to read about 16C Italy, with some wonderful descriptions especially of Venice and the various personalities that Fiammetta and Bucino come into contact with. La Draga becomes predictably a very important contact, gaining sympathy from Fiammetta she wheedles her way into their life.
The author has successfully blended fact and fiction with her passion for this particular period of history to tell a story that has some surprise twists along the way. I did guess the outcome, ending but personally felt it was a successful way of bringing the novel to a close.


faith in good writing restored, 19 Nov 2007
After reading and throwing away some aggressively marketed rubbish, most notably the awful Julie Andrews biog and the truly dreadful read - Wish you were here by some bloke I have thankfully erased from my memory - I at last picked up this delicious novel from the bottom of my 'to read' pile. I never looked back. Fascinating, wonderfully written, a page turner with a heroine you love and admire from the first pages, written by her dwarf until it reaches a poignant end. What more could anyone wish for??

Thriller exploring female friendship, 15 Dec 2000
This is another intelligent thriller from Sarah Dunant, very much in the Transgressions league. It's also a thought-provoking insight into female friendship, female self-image and why women ally themselves with relentlessly unsuitable men.

Very good - heavier than Dunant's earlier (and much much missed - PLEASE reprint them!) series of Hannah Wolfe detective novels but no less well written and finely plotted.

Journalist Anna goes missing on a trip to Italy, and all her friends and child, Lily, can do is worry, and imagine. Stella rushes back to England from Holland to help Paul look after young Lily and the pair of them have to come to terms with what Anna's permanent loss would mean.

Dunant writes well about the new tensions implicit in new sorts of family and new ways of life; Stella's free life with a semi-detached lover, Paul's relationship with the younger Mike--can these survive having to bring up a child? And what has happened to Anna? Dunant plays games and tells us two very different thrilling stories of Anna's absence. Is Anna perhaps the victim of a drugged drink, and abduction, and is locked in a remote house, a woman in Gothic danger? Or is she caught up in a more modern fantasy--off having raunchy sex with a charming but unsatisfactory lover who talks to her about art and takes her to look at rare paintings? This is an intense book, all the more effective for its every element being provisional; Dunant uses thriller elements to invigorate a novel of loss and risk. --Roz KaveneyJournalist Anna goes missing on a trip to Italy, and all her friends and child, Lily, can do is worry, and imagine. Stella rushes back to England from Holland to help Paul look after young Lily and the pair of them have to come to terms with what Anna's permanent loss would mean.

Dunant writes well about the new tensions implicit in new sorts of family and new ways of life; Stella's free life with a semi-detached lover, Paul's relationship with the younger Mike--can these survive having to bring up a child? And what has happened to Anna? Dunant plays games and tells us two very different thrilling stories of Anna's absence. Is Anna perhaps the victim of a drugged drink, and abduction, and locked in a remote house, a woman in Gothic danger? Or is she caught up in a more modern fantasy--off having raunchy sex with a charming but unsatisfactory lover who talks to her about art and takes her to look at rare paintings? This is an intense book, all the more effective for its every element being provisional; Dunant uses thriller elements to invigorate a novel of loss and risk.--Roz Kaveney

A very slow book, 19 Oct 2008
A very slow book to read, I did not like it very much but on the plus side, the author was very good at description - the windswept moor of Bodmin, the heavy rain but other than that it did not hold my interest.

Dark, rich and atmospheric!, 02 Oct 2008
This book lives up to expectations. It is a gothic tale based in Cornwall where the courage of the 'heroine' (Mary Yellan) is in constant battle with her dark surroundings - Jamaica Inn itself and the isolated moors with their treacherous bogs. There is a sense of panic and peril present throughout the book and you can easily relate to Mary's plight. She suffers terribly in the novel and parts of it seem like a nightmare race against time from which she cannot waken.
Du Maurier has created a heroine designed with a high commitment to morality. Even when she knows she has virtually no chance of success, she will still risk her life in an attempt to protect others more vulnerable than herself - the attempt matters more than the result!
Note though that the ending is not what we would expect in a more 'modern' story - it is an ending that is appropriate for the age when the book was written - bear that in mind when you read it and you won't be disappointed.

a book I really disliked!, 14 Jul 2008
This book doesn't resemble at all Rebecca or My cousin Rachel (which I liked); the atmosphere is oppressive and the heroin is always putting herself in danger deliberatly. (as if she had a death wish)
But then, she's attracted by the "hero" (if you can call that a hero) who again and again (at least, he's honest) tells her about all his defects, thaht he's no better than his brother (a real prince of a man, this one), that he's no good...and still she falls in love with him.
Why? I don't know.
But since there's a parallel between this couple and another couple (the aunt and uncle), the reader is meant to understand that she will have a harsh life at the very least...She obsviously chose a bad guy, and will pay it her whole life...most depressing book!

A really good book, 15 May 2008
I don't get that much time to read these days but I started this book this morning and the whole day has been a write-off because I couldn't put it down, which tells you how good a story it is. The family have had to sort themselves out! So curl up on the sofa and treat yourself to a good read.

WOW -- fabulous story, great suspense!, 13 Jan 2008
As this story opens, Mary Yellan's mother dies leaving this young adult on her own in a dangerous time. On her deathbed her mother tells her to go live with her Aunt Patience at an inn called Jamaica Inn near the Cornish coast (Corwall, England). Immediately upon arrival at Jamaica Inn she knows something is wrong since her once colorful Aunt Patience has turned into a simpering wimp and her Uncle Joss Merlyn is a towering cruel character with dubious past and present. Soon Mary learns about criminal activities surrounding Jamaica Inn and it's inhabitants. She is drawn into a mystery so intense and frightening that she'll brave the trecherous moors to escape.

This is one Daphne Du Maurier's best books. Don't miss this tale of twisted greed and terrible peril -- this is an EXCELLENT book that'll keep you up past your bedtime as you won't be able to put this book down! Buy it! This book earned itself a permanent place on my shelf!


a pleasant surprise, 27 Nov 2008
I picked this up in a charity shop, I'd never heard of it but the blurb appealed. It sat in my 'to read' pile for a few months before I picked it up.
As soon as I started it I was hooked. I found it fairly easy to read and it was a great story. Gripping, exciting with an interesting historical background and I found the central character appealing and easy to engage with.
I would definitely recommend this book.

A wonderful read, 02 Oct 2008
I read a synopsis for The Birth of Venus in a daily newspaper book club review and, having visited Florence, was interested to pursue this novel. It is a wonderful read and Alessandra has become quite a heroine for me. My book has since done the rounds of quite a few friends and it has been thoroughly enjoyed by all. Quite simply, a must read!

Really engrossing, magical book, 13 Mar 2008
A brilliantly crafted novel. Kept me in suspense until the end. Whetted my apetite for Renaissance art while keeping me intrigued by a juicy plot. The main character, Alessandra, was so easy to fall in love with and I could hardly bear to put it down. Definitely 10 out of 10 - 15th Century Florence just leapt off the page!

A beautiful, seductive novel, 29 Dec 2007
The Birth of Venus is a fantastic historical novel by the acclaimed author, Sarah Dunant. Dunant expertly paints a vivid and compelling picture of Renaissance Florence in a time of religious and political turbulence. In the midst of this turmoil, Alessandra Cecchi is experiencing her own turbulent transitional period into a beautiful young lady with very real feelings of love, passion and intoxicating attraction. From the moment I was introduced to her character I immediately empathised with her, understood her as a person and felt all her emotions from her innate awkwardness and shyness to the seductive, erotic pull that she feels for the forbidden painter. I took pleasure in watching her develop into a confident, independent lady as the novel unraveled. The novel is as full of twists and turns as the squalid streets of Renaissance Florence, and weaves together to form a fantastic, exciting and at times, poignant novel.
I would recommend this novel, and others by Sarah Dunant, to anyone with even a vague interest in historical fiction.

What a lovely book!, 09 Jun 2007
I was given this book as a present and was hooked from page one. Set in Florence during the Reinassance, it is a very believable picture of life back then, described in such vivid, well researched detail. The story itself is mysterious, gripping and moving. Definitely worth reading if you like historical fiction and even if you don't! A page-turner.

Very satisfying historical novel, 11 Aug 2008
This was chosen by a member of my reading group and was enjoyed by everyone. In fact it was voted our best read of the year! I am a great fan of historical novels as they often provide you with a point of entry into a given period or setting, which you can then follow up for more serious reading. This particular story is a more personal account of a fictional character in a particular location, Venice, in the 16th century. Sarah Dunant writes well and holds your interest throughout. It doesn't quite achieve five stars for me as I would have liked more about some of the real characters who are only touched upon in the book. Nevertheless a very good read.


Tragic but entertaining, 22 Apr 2008
This is a very good book. It is well-written in my opinion. The history is fascinating as are the characters of the dwarf and the courtesan. I feel, however, that the courtesan's character could have been more developed; she only once displayed 'weakness' when waivering from her calling. Bucino, on the other hand, reveals much about his character and his feelings for his Lady. I also wish the character of La Draga had been explored more fully. I feel as though we could have received more insight; however, this was a failing of the narrative device. Having said that, Bucino's point of view was highly entertaining and enlightening. I also thoroughly enjoyed the vivid depiction of Venice. Overall an excellent but not perfect book.

Well researched and written historical fiction, 08 Mar 2008
Don't let the title of this book put you off. It's a very enjoyable and well written piece of historical fiction and there is not a single sex scene in it. Sarah Dunant brings Renaissance Italy to life and skillfully integrates real people and events into this fictional story.

Fiammetta is a high class Italian courtesan in the 1530s, who is forced to flee Rome after the brutal invasion and sacking of the city. She escapes with her faithful servant and companion, the dwarf Bucino, having only a few jewels to her name. It is from Bucino's point of view that the story is told (apart from a brief departure into the third person early on, for no apparent reason).

Bucino and Fiammetta settle in Venice and work together as a team to establish her as one of Venice's leading courtesans. As she becomes more successful, the dynamics of their relationship change subtly.

I enjoyed this book very much. I was caught up in the characters and the decisions that they made. I found the ending very moving and I was sorry to say goodbye to these characters. I also enjoyed finding out more about Renaissance Italy.

The way that Sarah Dunant brings historical figures into the story is very clever and makes it feel very real. About halfway through you realise the significance of the cover illustration. As Sarah Dunant explains in the author's notes, it is a painting by the artist Titian, most probably of an Italian courtesan of that time. In her book, she has Titian painting that very portrait with Fiammetta as his model.

I'd recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading historical fiction. It reminded me of reading books by Philippa Gregory or Rose Tremain (although their books are set in quite different historical eras).

Compelling read, 02 Dec 2007
A compelling historical novel weaved around the sins of pleasure and the pleasure of sins! Set in 16C Italy the main characters are Fiammetta Bianchini, a Courtesan and her dwarf manservant Bucino Teodoldi. The story narrated by Bucino starts with them having to flee from their home in Rome after the city comes under siege. Fiammetta was originally from Venice, so it here that they decide to take refuge and rebuild their business. Together they make a good team, Fiammetta knows of no other life than the entertainment of gentleman, whilst Bucino takes care of the business side of things. To recover from the ravages suffered in Rome to Fiammetta's health and beauty it is necessary for them to call on the services of La Draga. La Draga, Elena Crusichi was a healer, though in those times such a person was often considered a witch.
It was fascinating to read about 16C Italy, with some wonderful descriptions especially of Venice and the various personalities that Fiammetta and Bucino come into contact with. La Draga becomes predictably a very important contact, gaining sympathy from Fiammetta she wheedles her way into their life.
The author has successfully blended fact and fiction with her passion for this particular period of history to tell a story that has some surprise twists along the way. I did guess the outcome, ending but personally felt it was a successful way of bringing the novel to a close.


faith in good writing restored, 19 Nov 2007
After reading and throwing away some aggressively marketed rubbish, most notably the awful Julie Andrews biog and the truly dreadful read - Wish you were here by some bloke I have thankfully erased from my memory - I at last picked up this delicious novel from the bottom of my 'to read' pile. I never looked back. Fascinating, wonderfully written, a page turner with a heroine you love and admire from the first pages, written by her dwarf until it reaches a poignant end. What more could anyone wish for??

Thriller exploring female friendship, 15 Dec 2000
This is another intelligent thriller from Sarah Dunant, very much in the Transgressions league. It's also a thought-provoking insight into female friendship, female self-image and why women ally themselves with relentlessly unsuitable men.

Very good - heavier than Dunant's earlier (and much much missed - PLEASE reprint them!) series of Hannah Wolfe detective novels but no less well written and finely plotted.

Take it or leave it, 04 Aug 2008
I have just finished reading this and I am left feeling "is that it?"

The protagonist, Anna, has disappeared off to Italy without telling anyone where or why (leaving her 6 year old daughter at home - nice). The story then alternates between the one written by her best friend Estella who has had to drop everything to look after the daughter, and Anna (who just to confuse matters more, has two seperate stories going on simultaniously - one where she is kidnapped and another where she is onvolved in a fling with a married man -and we never know which is the real story). Confused? So was I!

I never felt like I knew any of the characters well enough, which led me to not really care very much about any of them. Certainly the kidnapper was very one dimensional and I never understood what his motives were at all, not even at the end.

It did only take me 2 days to read this book and it did have its page-turning moments but having finished it I really am left thinking "who cares?".

Confusing, 05 Nov 2007

Although I will have to admit to not fully understanding therefore being confused by this story, it did not spoil my enjoyment of the novel.
The story is divided into three sections. Anna has not returned home as expected from a trip to Italy and her daughter Lily is being cared for by friends including Estella the narrator. The suspense is intensified by Estella's description of the household's reaction to Anna's disappearance. It was the other two scenarios that I found confusing, was she with her lover as planned or was she the victim of kidnap. This will certainly keep you guessing.


Dunant Maps New Boundaries For The Psychological Thriller!,, 13 Oct 2005
Ms. Dunant delivers two different versions of the plot. What happens to Anna Franklin? She is thirty-nine, very attractive, "pretty was always too tame a word," a single mother and journalist, who goes for a short vacation to Italy, leaving her six-year-old daughter with friends in London. When she does not return, her friends are justifiably alarmed, but knowing Anna's reliability they invent rational reasons for her continued absence - until it becomes apparent that she may never return.

The two different accounts of Anna's adventures are cleverly interwoven with the narrative of what occurs at home with the daughter and friends who wait, as we wait, to discover just what is going on. The author also takes us on a journey into Anna's past to further develop her character. This chilling novel promises answers but never really delivers. Ms. Dunant's writing is taut and suspenseful. She is a three time finalist for the Golden Dagger Award. This is a novel you won't be able to put down - an engrossing read!
JANA

A story that takes you right to the edge.,, 03 Oct 2005
Dunant is a real pro, subtly using every trick in the book to create a psychological novel of intense suspense, a novel that succeeds beautifully in keeping the reader involved, on edge, and dying to find out, first, what is happening to Anna, and second, what is real. The main character, Anna, resembles many other single women about to turn forty, and she is a woman with whom most readers will empathize, even if they find her domestic history to be a bit unusual.

As she yearns for love and excitement, reveals her vulnerabilities, and shares her fears, all of which play their part in the mystery that develops during her one week vacation in Italy, Dunant ratchets up the suspense--we can imagine and share Anna's plight because she reflects our own insecurities. The fact that she does not return to her loved ones on time, and is considered missing, coincides with our own worst fears, while the fact that neither we nor Anna are sure about what is real and what is fantasy parallels the neurotic daydreams and nightmares everyone shares.

Dunant tantalizes the reader by presenting two parallel explanations for what happens on Anna's vacation. As Anna tells us about her past relationships and the birth of her daughter Lily, now six years old, along with two other, very different relationships which may or may not be occurring in Italy while she is "missing," Dunant provides just enough information to allow the reader to jump to conclusions, often incorrect, about what's going on. At the same time, she increases the suspense by having Anna's friend Estella describe the chilling effects of Anna's absence on Lily and the rest of the household back in England.

As the novel races to its conclusion, most readers will probably race along, too, unwilling to take a break till it's finished and the outcome known. It is only after the fact, when we "recollect in tranquility," that the true sense of Dunant's achievement can be appreciated--she has manipulated us like marionettes, and we have loved every minute of it. Mary Whipple

A Gripping Tale, 06 Sep 2005
I picked up this book whilst on holiday, and finished it within 3 days.
Mapping The Edge is a truly gripping tale of the two possible scenarios in which the main character is involved. But which one? In both, Alice is prevented from returning home after a short break in Italy. Both are highly believable, but quite different, although the two situations gradually seem to become interwoven, sharing crucial events,and eventually the more originally sinister story becomes the one we can empathise with, whilst what begins as a seemingly uncomplicated affair driven by mutial desires becomes increasingly menacing. Running through the story is the background of the main characters' daughter,6 year old Lily,and her perception of her abandonment by her mother, as well as the concerns of Alices friends, Stella and Paul, who are responsible for Lily in her ever more lengthy absence. This book draws you in and pulls you with ever increasing speed towards its satisfyingly apt conclusion. A great book, and I shall be reading more from Sarah Dunant.

A very slow book, 19 Oct 2008
A very slow book to read, I did not like it very much but on the plus side, the author was very good at description - the windswept moor of Bodmin, the heavy rain but other than that it did not hold my interest.

Dark, rich and atmospheric!, 02 Oct 2008
This book lives up to expectations. It is a gothic tale based in Cornwall where the courage of the 'heroine' (Mary Yellan) is in constant battle with her dark surroundings - Jamaica Inn itself and the isolated moors with their treacherous bogs. There is a sense of panic and peril present throughout the book and you can easily relate to Mary's plight. She suffers terribly in the novel and parts of it seem like a nightmare race against time from which she cannot waken.
Du Maurier has created a heroine designed with a high commitment to morality. Even when she knows she has virtually no chance of success, she will still risk her life in an attempt to protect others more vulnerable than herself - the attempt matters more than the result!
Note though that the ending is not what we would expect in a more 'modern' story - it is an ending that is appropriate for the age when the book was written - bear that in mind when you read it and you won't be disappointed.

a book I really disliked!, 14 Jul 2008
This book doesn't resemble at all Rebecca or My cousin Rachel (which I liked); the atmosphere is oppressive and the heroin is always putting herself in danger deliberatly. (as if she had a death wish)
But then, she's attracted by the "hero" (if you can call that a hero) who again and again (at least, he's honest) tells her about all his defects, thaht he's no better than his brother (a real prince of a man, this one), that he's no good...and still she falls in love with him.
Why? I don't know.
But since there's a parallel between this couple and another couple (the aunt and uncle), the reader is meant to understand that she will have a harsh life at the very least...She obsviously chose a bad guy, and will pay it her whole life...most depressing book!

A really good book, 15 May 2008
I don't get that much time to read these days but I started this book this morning and the whole day has been a write-off because I couldn't put it down, which tells you how good a story it is. The family have had to sort themselves out! So curl up on the sofa and treat yourself to a good read.

WOW -- fabulous story, great suspense!, 13 Jan 2008
As this story opens, Mary Yellan's mother dies leaving this young adult on her own in a dangerous time. On her deathbed her mother tells her to go live with her Aunt Patience at an inn called Jamaica Inn near the Cornish coast (Corwall, England). Immediately upon arrival at Jamaica Inn she knows something is wrong since her once colorful Aunt Patience has turned into a simpering wimp and her Uncle Joss Merlyn is a towering cruel character with dubious past and present. Soon Mary learns about criminal activities surrounding Jamaica Inn and it's inhabitants. She is drawn into a mystery so intense and frightening that she'll brave the trecherous moors to escape.

This is one Daphne Du Maurier's best books. Don't miss this tale of twisted greed and terrible peril -- this is an EXCELLENT book that'll keep you up past your bedtime as you won't be able to put this book down! Buy it! This book earned itself a permanent place on my shelf!


a pleasant surprise, 27 Nov 2008
I picked this up in a charity shop, I'd never heard of it but the blurb appealed. It sat in my 'to read' pile for a few months before I picked it up.
As soon as I started it I was hooked. I found it fairly easy to read and it was a great story. Gripping, exciting with an interesting historical background and I found the central character appealing and easy to engage with.
I would definitely recommend this book.

A wonderful read, 02 Oct 2008
I read a synopsis for The Birth of Venus in a daily newspaper book club review and, having visited Florence, was interested to pursue this novel. It is a wonderful read and Alessandra has become quite a heroine for me. My book has since done the rounds of quite a few friends and it has been thoroughly enjoyed by all. Quite simply, a must read!

Really engrossing, magical book, 13 Mar 2008
A brilliantly crafted novel. Kept me in suspense until the end. Whetted my apetite for Renaissance art while keeping me intrigued by a juicy plot. The main character, Alessandra, was so easy to fall in love with and I could hardly bear to put it down. Definitely 10 out of 10 - 15th Century Florence just leapt off the page!

A beautiful, seductive novel, 29 Dec 2007
The Birth of Venus is a fantastic historical novel by the acclaimed author, Sarah Dunant. Dunant expertly paints a vivid and compelling picture of Renaissance Florence in a time of religious and political turbulence. In the midst of this turmoil, Alessandra Cecchi is experiencing her own turbulent transitional period into a beautiful young lady with very real feelings of love, passion and intoxicating attraction. From the moment I was introduced to her character I immediately empathised with her, understood her as a person and felt all her emotions from her innate awkwardness and shyness to the seductive, erotic pull that she feels for the forbidden painter. I took pleasure in watching her develop into a confident, independent lady as the novel unraveled. The novel is as full of twists and turns as the squalid streets of Renaissance Florence, and weaves together to form a fantastic, exciting and at times, poignant novel.
I would recommend this novel, and others by Sarah Dunant, to anyone with even a vague interest in historical fiction.

What a lovely book!, 09 Jun 2007
I was given this book as a present and was hooked from page one. Set in Florence during the Reinassance, it is a very believable picture of life back then, described in such vivid, well researched detail. The story itself is mysterious, gripping and moving. Definitely worth reading if you like historical fiction and even if you don't! A page-turner.

Very satisfying historical novel, 11 Aug 2008
This was chosen by a member of my reading group and was enjoyed by everyone. In fact it was voted our best read of the year! I am a great fan of historical novels as they often provide you with a point of entry into a given period or setting, which you can then follow up for more serious reading. This particular story is a more personal account of a fictional character in a particular location, Venice, in the 16th century. Sarah Dunant writes well and holds your interest throughout. It doesn't quite achieve five stars for me as I would have liked more about some of the real characters who are only touched upon in the book. Nevertheless a very good read.


Tragic but entertaining, 22 Apr 2008
This is a very good book. It is well-written in my opinion. The history is fascinating as are the characters of the dwarf and the courtesan. I feel, however, that the courtesan's character could have been more developed; she only once displayed 'weakness' when waivering from her calling. Bucino, on the other hand, reveals much about his character and his feelings for his Lady. I also wish the character of La Draga had been explored more fully. I feel as though we could have received more insight; however, this was a failing of the narrative device. Having said that, Bucino's point of view was highly entertaining and enlightening. I also thoroughly enjoyed the vivid depiction of Venice. Overall an excellent but not perfect book.

Well researched and written historical fiction, 08 Mar 2008
Don't let the title of this book put you off. It's a very enjoyable and well written piece of historical fiction and there is not a single sex scene in it. Sarah Dunant brings Renaissance Italy to life and skillfully integrates real people and events into this fictional story.

Fiammetta is a high class Italian courtesan in the 1530s, who is forced to flee Rome after the brutal invasion and sacking of the city. She escapes with her faithful servant and companion, the dwarf Bucino, having only a few jewels to her name. It is from Bucino's point of view that the story is told (apart from a brief departure into the third person early on, for no apparent reason).

Bucino and Fiammetta settle in Venice and work together as a team to establish her as one of Venice's leading courtesans. As she becomes more successful, the dynamics of their relationship change subtly.

I enjoyed this book very much. I was caught up in the characters and the decisions that they made. I found the ending very moving and I was sorry to say goodbye to these characters. I also enjoyed finding out more about Renaissance Italy.

The way that Sarah Dunant brings historical figures into the story is very clever and makes it feel very real. About halfway through you realise the significance of the cover illustration. As Sarah Dunant explains in the author's notes, it is a painting by the artist Titian, most probably of an Italian courtesan of that time. In her book, she has Titian painting that very portrait with Fiammetta as his model.

I'd recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading historical fiction. It reminded me of reading books by Philippa Gregory or Rose Tremain (although their books are set in quite different historical eras).

Compelling read, 02 Dec 2007
A compelling historical novel weaved around the sins of pleasure and the pleasure of sins! Set in 16C Italy the main characters are Fiammetta Bianchini, a Courtesan and her dwarf manservant Bucino Teodoldi. The story narrated by Bucino starts with them having to flee from their home in Rome after the city comes under siege. Fiammetta was originally from Venice, so it here that they decide to take refuge and rebuild their business. Together they make a good team, Fiammetta knows of no other life than the entertainment of gentleman, whilst Bucino takes care of the business side of things. To recover from the ravages suffered in Rome to Fiammetta's health and beauty it is necessary for them to call on the services of La Draga. La Draga, Elena Crusichi was a healer, though in those times such a person was often considered a witch.
It was fascinating to read about 16C Italy, with some wonderful descriptions especially of Venice and the various personalities that Fiammetta and Bucino come into contact with. La Draga becomes predictably a very important contact, gaining sympathy from Fiammetta she wheedles her way into their life.
The author has successfully blended fact and fiction with her passion for this particular period of history to tell a story that has some surprise twists along the way. I did guess the outcome, ending but personally felt it was a successful way of bringing the novel to a close.


faith in good writing restored, 19 Nov 2007
After reading and throwing away some aggressively marketed rubbish, most notably the awful Julie Andrews biog and the truly dreadful read - Wish you were here by some bloke I have thankfully erased from my memory - I at last picked up this delicious novel from the bottom of my 'to read' pile. I never looked back. Fascinating, wonderfully written, a page turner with a heroine you love and admire from the first pages, written by her dwarf until it reaches a poignant end. What more could anyone wish for??

Thriller exploring female friendship, 15 Dec 2000
This is another intelligent thriller from Sarah Dunant, very much in the Transgressions league. It's also a thought-provoking insight into female friendship, female self-image and why women ally themselves with relentlessly unsuitable men.

Very good - heavier than Dunant's earlier (and much much missed - PLEASE reprint them!) series of Hannah Wolfe detective novels but no less well written and finely plotted.

Take it or leave it, 04 Aug 2008
I have just finished reading this and I am left feeling "is that it?"

The protagonist, Anna, has disappeared off to Italy without telling anyone where or why (leaving her 6 year old daughter at home - nice). The story then alternates between the one written by her best friend Estella who has had to drop everything to look after the daughter, and Anna (who just to confuse matters more, has two seperate stories going on simultaniously - one where she is kidnapped and another where she is onvolved in a fling with a married man -and we never know which is the real story). Confused? So was I!

I never felt like I knew any of the characters well enough, which led me to not really care very much about any of them. Certainly the kidnapper was very one dimensional and I never understood what his motives were at all, not even at the end.

It did only take me 2 days to read this book and it did have its page-turning moments but having finished it I really am left thinking "who cares?".

Confusing, 05 Nov 2007

Although I will have to admit to not fully understanding therefore being confused by this story, it did not spoil my enjoyment of the novel.
The story is divided into three sections. Anna has not returned home as expected from a trip to Italy and her daughter Lily is being cared for by friends including Estella the narrator. The suspense is intensified by Estella's description of the household's reaction to Anna's disappearance. It was the other two scenarios that I found confusing, was she with her lover as planned or was she the victim of kidnap. This will certainly keep you guessing.


Dunant Maps New Boundaries For The Psychological Thriller!,, 13 Oct 2005
Ms. Dunant delivers two different versions of the plot. What happens to Anna Franklin? She is thirty-nine, very attractive, "pretty was always too tame a word," a single mother and journalist, who goes for a short vacation to Italy, leaving her six-year-old daughter with friends in London. When she does not return, her friends are justifiably alarmed, but knowing Anna's reliability they invent rational reasons for her continued absence - until it becomes apparent that she may never return.

The two different accounts of Anna's adventures are cleverly interwoven with the narrative of what occurs at home with the daughter and friends who wait, as we wait, to discover just what is going on. The author also takes us on a journey into Anna's past to further develop her character. This chilling novel promises answers but never really delivers. Ms. Dunant's writing is taut and suspenseful. She is a three time finalist for the Golden Dagger Award. This is a novel you won't be able to put down - an engrossing read!
JANA

A story that takes you right to the edge.,, 03 Oct 2005
Dunant is a real pro, subtly using every trick in the book to create a psychological novel of intense suspense, a novel that succeeds beautifully in keeping the reader involved, on edge, and dying to find out, first, what is happening to Anna, and second, what is real. The main character, Anna, resembles many other single women about to turn forty, and she is a woman with whom most readers will empathize, even if they find her domestic history to be a bit unusual.

As she yearns for love and excitement, reveals her vulnerabilities, and shares her fears, all of which play their part in the mystery that develops during her one week vacation in Italy, Dunant ratchets up the suspense--we can imagine and share Anna's plight because she reflects our own insecurities. The fact that she does not return to her loved ones on time, and is considered missing, coincides with our own worst fears, while the fact that neither we nor Anna are sure about what is real and what is fantasy parallels the neurotic daydreams and nightmares everyone shares.

Dunant tantalizes the reader by presenting two parallel explanations for what happens on Anna's vacation. As Anna tells us about her past relationships and the birth of her daughter Lily, now six years old, along with two other, very different relationships which may or may not be occurring in Italy while she is "missing," Dunant provides just enough information to allow the reader to jump to conclusions, often incorrect, about what's going on. At the same time, she increases the suspense by having Anna's friend Estella describe the chilling effects of Anna's absence on Lily and the rest of the household back in England.

As the novel races to its conclusion, most readers will probably race along, too, unwilling to take a break till it's finished and the outcome known. It is only after the fact, when we "recollect in tranquility," that the true sense of Dunant's achievement can be appreciated--she has manipulated us like marionettes, and we have loved every minute of it. Mary Whipple

A Gripping Tale, 06 Sep 2005
I picked up this book whilst on holiday, and finished it within 3 days.
Mapping The Edge is a truly gripping tale of the two possible scenarios in which the main character is involved. But which one? In both, Alice is prevented from returning home after a short break in Italy. Both are highly believable, but quite different, although the two situations gradually seem to become interwoven, sharing crucial events,and eventually the more originally sinister story becomes the one we can empathise with, whilst what begins as a seemingly uncomplicated affair driven by mutial desires becomes increasingly menacing. Running through the story is the background of the main characters' daughter,6 year old Lily,and her perception of her abandonment by her mother, as well as the concerns of Alices friends, Stella and Paul, who are responsible for Lily in her ever more lengthy absence. This book draws you in and pulls you with ever increasing speed towards its satisfyingly apt conclusion. A great book, and I shall be reading more from Sarah Dunant.

Strange, certainly, 03 Mar 2008
I enjoy very much the thriller genre which was why I was attracted to buying this novel. The reviews thus far are very convincing. I persevered until page 120 or so, by which time I found I'd had enough and that (a little harsh, I'm afraid) the author was wasting my time. Transgressions is indeed an ambitious novel but skilfully woven it is not. The sexual element is not sexy but vulgar (and at times toecurlingly embarrassing). And when an author deliberately sets out to try and frighten her readers in the crude and unsubtle fashion Miss Dunant does, then the novel becomes eminently putdownable. I'm afraid this was one thriller that simply failed to thrill.

First class thriller from an author of rare ability, 05 Apr 2005
Lizzie is a translator, of Czech to English. Her relationship of seven years has ended and she is a few months into the single life and celibacy. At times, her large London terrace seems an empty place, animated only by the presence of her cat, Millie. But Millie has made the house vulnerable to the predations of a prowling tomcat which has learned to use the cat flap to enter, rob the food bowl, and dole out a few wounds in the process.

Lizzie's friends worry about her. She reassures them, and herself, that everything is fine. She has a new contract, to translate a European bestseller for the English-speaking ... and Hollywood ... market. It's a tale of cops and robbers, a high body count, and explicit sex, and it will keep her too busy to fret about her own life, loneliness, and celibacy.

Is it her imagination? One of her albums is missing. When the second disappears, she suspects her ex is playing tricks. But the third incident with the CD's shakes Lizzie's confidence. Someone, or something other than the tomcat, is getting into the house.

Sarah Dunant writes a very sophisticated, very elegant thriller. Juxtaposing the violence of excerpts from Lizzie's translation with the psychological chill of her own fears and realisation of what is happening, this is a first class novel.

Dunant is a very fine writer. She dissects the sexual mores and sexual desires of her characters with a skill and sensitivity few other novelists manage. Lizzie is no passive victim. She is a literate, intelligent young woman who opts to fight whatever it is that has determined to invade her world. In places disturbing, even shocking, certainly explicit, Dunant delivers some fascinating insights into her characters.

This is a tense, well-paced novel which obliges you to keep turning the pages. Exceptionally well written and beautifully structured, Dunant's writing style is dynamic and economical, each word, each phrase, each sentence delivered with poise and purpose.

This is the first Sarah Dunant novel I've read ... I'll certainly read more. First class writing, compulsive story-telling, and an author with class, style, and personality.

Slightly weird and seedy thriller, 15 Jul 2004
This book is a thriller but it's unlike any thriller I've read before. Yes, there are some VERY scary moments and some edge-of-the-seat scenes that had me wanting to read late into the night. But - and it's a BIG but - the story was slightly weird, in places the writing seemed contrived and in others the line between sex and porn became blurred. I can't say I enjoyed the book, but it was a pacey and sometimes terrifying read, so I guess I couldn't ask for too much more.

The story centres around Elizabeth, who makes her living translating books from Czech into English. She has recently broken up with her long-time boyfriend and finds herself alone and rattling around the big house they once shared in suburban London. Strange, quirky things begin to happen in the house that disturb her because she can't quite work out whether they are really happening or whether they are a figment of her imagination.

The fear factor goes up a few notches when Elizabeth wakes up in the middle of the night KNOWING that an uninvited guest is in the house. It's HOW she deals with this intruder that readers may find disturbing . . .

Transgressions seems a very fitting title for this weird and slightly seedy book. It's not the best thriller I've ever read, but by the same token it's not a bad read - just a strange one . . .

Gripping but strange, 26 Oct 2002
A very strange story. Elizabeth has recently split up from her long-time lover and is trying to adjust to life on her own terms. She begins to translate a novel from Czech to English for a job assignment, but then strange events occur and she becomes suspicious that her ex, or even her best friend, is responsible. Soon, to Elizabeth, the line between fact and fiction becomes rather blurred. The tension mounts as Elizabeth thinks she is losing her mind only, when confronted by the truth, to struggle with obsession and reality. I thought this book was very "edge-of-your-seat", but (although I'm not prudish) I did think that some of the sexual scenes were too vulgar. The author seemed to be fixated on female violation and some of the descriptions made me squirm as I felt they were gratuituous. "Transgressions" started out as a promise of enjoyment, but then became something that I wouldn't have necessarily read by choice.

Defines the Psychological Thriller, 03 Mar 2002
Sarah Dunant is probably most famous as the presenter of BBC2's Late Show and yet this, her fifth novel, should establish her as a major force in thriller writing. The Beeb's loss is our gain.
Beginning with the apparently innocent mislaying of a Van Morrison CD Dunant's heroine, the evocatively christened Elizabeth Skvorecky, becomes impossibly trapped by a stalker of such ingenuity and stealth that she soon begins to doubt her own sanity. Before too long she even doubts her chances of survival!
Such is Dunant's narrative expertise that it is all too easy - even for a mere male - to step into the shoes of Skvorecky, to feel the rising panic, to doubt one's own senses. Comparisons with Poe spring to mind when reading the unfolding, inexplicable mental tortures which are inflicted on the heroine; the plot develops with the stealth and measured pace of an advancing cobra!
Characterization, narrative, dialogue and setting are all spot on - one can almost see the view across Elizabeth's garden, almost hear the music playing in the kitchen as she steers herself to open the door. The ending - when it comes - is no damp squib of an excuse. On the contrary, the adrenaline flows right through to the last few pages of uncertainty before Elizabeth's ghosts can finally be laid to rest and Van the Man can sing his plaintive love songs once again.
May Sarah Dunant's writing continue in this vein.

A very slow book, 19 Oct 2008
A very slow book to read, I did not like it very much but on the plus side, the author was very good at description - the windswept moor of Bodmin, the heavy rain but other than that it did not hold my interest.

Dark, rich and atmospheric!, 02 Oct 2008
This book lives up to expectations. It is a gothic tale based in Cornwall where the courage of the 'heroine' (Mary Yellan) is in constant battle with her dark surroundings - Jamaica Inn itself and the isolated moors with their treacherous bogs. There is a sense of panic and peril present throughout the book and you can easily relate to Mary's plight. She suffers terribly in the novel and parts of it seem like a nightmare race against time from which she cannot waken.
Du Maurier has created a heroine designed with a high commitment to morality. Even when she knows she has virtually no chance of success, she will still risk her life in an attempt to protect others more vulnerable than herself - the attempt matters more than the result!
Note though that the ending is not what we would expect in a more 'modern' story - it is an ending that is appropriate for the age when the book was written - bear that in mind when you read it and you won't be disappointed.

a book I really disliked!, 14 Jul 2008
This book doesn't resemble at all Rebecca or My cousin Rachel (which I liked); the atmosphere is oppressive and the heroin is always putting herself in danger deliberatly. (as if she had a death wish)
But then, she's attracted by the "hero" (if you can call that a hero) who again and again (at least, he's honest) tells her about all his defects, thaht he's no better than his brother (a real prince of a man, this one), that he's no good...and still she falls in love with him.
Why? I don't know.
But since there's a parallel between this couple and another couple (the aunt and uncle), the reader is meant to understand that she will have a harsh life at the very least...She obsviously chose a bad guy, and will pay it her whole life...most depressing book!

A really good book, 15 May 2008
I don't get that much time to read these days but I started this book this morning and the whole day has been a write-off because I couldn't put it down, which tells you how good a story it is. The family have had to sort themselves out! So curl up on the sofa and treat yourself to a good read.

WOW -- fabulous story, great suspense!, 13 Jan 2008
As this story opens, Mary Yellan's mother dies leaving this young adult on her own in a dangerous time. On her deathbed her mother tells her to go live with her Aunt Patience at an inn called Jamaica Inn near the Cornish coast (Corwall, England). Immediately upon arrival at Jamaica Inn she knows something is wrong since her once colorful Aunt Patience has turned into a simpering wimp and her Uncle Joss Merlyn is a towering cruel character with dubious past and present. Soon Mary learns about criminal activities surrounding Jamaica Inn and it's inhabitants. She is drawn into a mystery so intense and frightening that she'll brave the trecherous moors to escape.

This is one Daphne Du Maurier's best books. Don't miss this tale of twisted greed and terrible peril -- this is an EXCELLENT book that'll keep you up past your bedtime as you won't be able to put this book down! Buy it! This book earned itself a permanent place on my shelf!


a pleasant surprise, 27 Nov 2008
I picked this up in a charity shop, I'd never heard of it but the blurb appealed. It sat in my 'to read' pile for a few months before I picked it up.
As soon as I started it I was hooked. I found it fairly easy to read and it was a great story. Gripping, exciting with an interesting historical background and I found the central character appealing and easy to engage with.
I would definitely recommend this book.

A wonderful read, 02 Oct 2008
I read a synopsis for The Birth of Venus in a daily newspaper book club review and, having visited Florence, was interested to pursue this novel. It is a wonderful read and Alessandra has become quite a heroine for me. My book has since done the rounds of quite a few friends and it has been thoroughly enjoyed by all. Quite simply, a must read!

Really engrossing, magical book, 13 Mar 2008
A brilliantly crafted novel. Kept me in suspense until the end. Whetted my apetite for Renaissance art while keeping me intrigued by a juicy plot. The main character, Alessandra, was so easy to fall in love with and I could hardly bear to put it down. Definitely 10 out of 10 - 15th Century Florence just leapt off the page!

A beautiful, seductive novel, 29 Dec 2007
The Birth of Venus is a fantastic historical novel by the acclaimed author, Sarah Dunant. Dunant expertly paints a vivid and compelling picture of Renaissance Florence in a time of religious and political turbulence. In the midst of this turmoil, Alessandra Cecchi is experiencing her own turbulent transitional period into a beautiful young lady with very real feelings of love, passion and intoxicating attraction. From the moment I was introduced to her character I immediately empathised with her, understood her as a person and felt all her emotions from her innate awkwardness and shyness to the seductive, erotic pull that she feels for the forbidden painter. I took pleasure in watching her develop into a confident, independent lady as the novel unraveled. The novel is as full of twists and turns as the squalid streets of Renaissance Florence, and weaves together to form a fantastic, exciting and at times, poignant novel.
I would recommend this novel, and others by Sarah Dunant, to anyone with even a vague interest in historical fiction.

What a lovely book!, 09 Jun 2007
I was given this book as a present and was hooked from page one. Set in Florence during the Reinassance, it is a very believable picture of life back then, described in such vivid, well researched detail. The story itself is mysterious, gripping and moving. Definitely worth reading if you like historical fiction and even if you don't! A page-turner.

Very satisfying historical novel, 11 Aug 2008
This was chosen by a member of my reading group and was enjoyed by everyone. In fact it was voted our best read of the year! I am a great fan of historical novels as they often provide you with a point of entry into a given period or setting, which you can then follow up for more serious reading. This particular story is a more personal account of a fictional character in a particular location, Venice, in the 16th century. Sarah Dunant writes well and holds your interest throughout. It doesn't quite achieve five stars for me as I would have liked more about some of the real characters who are only touched upon in the book. Nevertheless a very good read.


Tragic but entertaining, 22 Apr 2008
This is a very good book. It is well-written in my opinion. The history is fascinating as are the characters of the dwarf and the courtesan. I feel, however, that the courtesan's character could have been more developed; she only once displayed 'weakness' when waivering from her calling. Bucino, on the other hand, reveals much about his character and his feelings for his Lady. I also wish the character of La Draga had been explored more fully. I feel as though we could have received more insight; however, this was a failing of the narrative device. Having said that, Bucino's point of view was highly entertaining and enlightening. I also thoroughly enjoyed the vivid depiction of Venice. Overall an excellent but not perfect book.

Well researched and written historical fiction, 08 Mar 2008
Don't let the title of this book put you off. It's a very enjoyable and well written piece of historical fiction and there is not a single sex scene in it. Sarah Dunant brings Renaissance Italy to life and skillfully integrates real people and events into this fictional story.

Fiammetta is a high class Italian courtesan in the 1530s, who is forced to flee Rome after the brutal invasion and sacking of the city. She escapes with her faithful servant and companion, the dwarf Bucino, having only a few jewels to her name. It is from Bucino's point of view that the story is told (apart from a brief departure into the third person early on, for no apparent reason).

Bucino and Fiammetta settle in Venice and work together as a team to establish her as one of Venice's leading courtesans. As she becomes more successful, the dynamics of their relationship change subtly.

I enjoyed this book very much. I was caught up in the characters and the decisions that they made. I found the ending very moving and I was sorry to say goodbye to these characters. I also enjoyed finding out more about Renaissance Italy.

The way that Sarah Dunant brings historical figures into the story is very clever and makes it feel very real. About halfway through you realise the significance of the cover illustration. As Sarah Dunant explains in the author's notes, it is a painting by the artist Titian, most probably of an Italian courtesan of that time. In her book, she has Titian painting that very portrait with Fiammetta as his model.

I'd recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading historical fiction. It reminded me of reading books by Philippa Gregory or Rose Tremain (although their books are set in quite different historical eras).

Compelling read, 02 Dec 2007
A compelling historical novel weaved around the sins of pleasure and the pleasure of sins! Set in 16C Italy the main characters are Fiammetta Bianchini, a Courtesan and her dwarf manservant Bucino Teodoldi. The story narrated by Bucino starts with them having to flee from their home in Rome after the city comes under siege. Fiammetta was originally from Venice, so it here that they decide to take refuge and rebuild their business. Together they make a good team, Fiammetta knows of no other life than the entertainment of gentleman, whilst Bucino takes care of the business side of things. To recover from the ravages suffered in Rome to Fiammetta's health and beauty it is necessary for them to call on the services of La Draga. La Draga, Elena Crusichi was a healer, though in those times such a person was often considered a witch.
It was fascinating to read about 16C Italy, with some wonderful descriptions especially of Venice and the various personalities that Fiammetta and Bucino come into contact with. La Draga becomes predictably a very important contact, gaining sympathy from Fiammetta she wheedles her way into their life.
The author has successfully blended fact and fiction with her passion for this particular period of history to tell a story that has some surprise twists along the way. I did guess the outcome, ending but personally felt it was a successful way of bringing the novel to a close.


faith in good writing restored, 19 Nov 2007
After reading and throwing away some aggressively marketed rubbish, most notably the awful Julie Andrews biog and the truly dreadful read - Wish you were here by some bloke I have thankfully erased from my memory - I at last picked up this delicious novel from the bottom of my 'to read' pile. I never looked back. Fascinating, wonderfully written, a page turner with a heroine you love and admire from the first pages, written by her dwarf until it reaches a poignant end. What more could anyone wish for??

Thriller exploring female friendship, 15 Dec 2000
This is another intelligent thriller from Sarah Dunant, very much in the Transgressions league. It's also a thought-provoking insight into female friendship, female self-image and why women ally themselves with relentlessly unsuitable men.

Very good - heavier than Dunant's earlier (and much much missed - PLEASE reprint them!) series of Hannah Wolfe detective novels but no less well written and finely plotted.

Take it or leave it, 04 Aug 2008
I have just finished reading this and I am left feeling "is that it?"

The protagonist, Anna, has disappeared off to Italy without telling anyone where or why (leaving her 6 year old daughter at home - nice). The story then alternates between the one written by her best friend Estella who has had to drop everything to look after the daughter, and Anna (who just to confuse matters more, has two seperate stories going on simultaniously - one where she is kidnapped and another where she is onvolved in a fling with a married man -and we never know which is the real story). Confused? So was I!

I never felt like I knew any of the characters well enough, which led me to not really care very much about any of them. Certainly the kidnapper was very one dimensional and I never understood what his motives were at all, not even at the end.

It did only take me 2 days to read this book and it did have its page-turning moments but having finished it I really am left thinking "who cares?".

Confusing, 05 Nov 2007

Although I will have to admit to not fully understanding therefore being confused by this story, it did not spoil my enjoyment of the novel.
The story is divided into three sections. Anna has not returned home as expected from a trip to Italy and her daughter Lily is being cared for by friends including Estella the narrator. The suspense is intensified by Estella's description of the household's reaction to Anna's disappearance. It was the other two scenarios that I found confusing, was she with her lover as planned or was she the victim of kidnap. This will certainly keep you guessing.


Dunant Maps New Boundaries For The Psychological Thriller!,, 13 Oct 2005
Ms. Dunant delivers two different versions of the plot. What happens to Anna Franklin? She is thirty-nine, very attractive, "pretty was always too tame a word," a single mother and journalist, who goes for a short vacation to Italy, leaving her six-year-old daughter with friends in London. When she does not return, her friends are justifiably alarmed, but knowing Anna's reliability they invent rational reasons for her continued absence - until it becomes apparent that she may never return.

The two different accounts of Anna's adventures are cleverly interwoven with the narrative of what occurs at home with the daughter and friends who wait, as we wait, to discover just what is going on. The author also takes us on a journey into Anna's past to further develop her character. This chilling novel promises answers but never really delivers. Ms. Dunant's writing is taut and suspenseful. She is a three time finalist for the Golden Dagger Award. This is a novel you won't be able to put down - an engrossing read!
JANA

A story that takes you right to the edge.,, 03 Oct 2005
Dunant is a real pro, subtly using every trick in the book to create a psychological novel of intense suspense, a novel that succeeds beautifully in keeping the reader involved, on edge, and dying to find out, first, what is happening to Anna, and second, what is real. The main character, Anna, resembles many other single women about to turn forty, and she is a woman with whom most readers will empathize, even if they find her domestic history to be a bit unusual.

As she yearns for love and excitement, reveals her vulnerabilities, and shares her fears, all of which play their part in the mystery that develops during her one week vacation in Italy, Dunant ratchets up the suspense--we can imagine and share Anna's plight because she reflects our own insecurities. The fact that she does not return to her loved ones on time, and is considered missing, coincides with our own worst fears, while the fact that neither we nor Anna are sure about what is real and what is fantasy parallels the neurotic daydreams and nightmares everyone shares.

Dunant tantalizes the reader by presenting two parallel explanations for what happens on Anna's vacation. As Anna tells us about her past relationships and the birth of her daughter Lily, now six years old, along with two other, very different relationships which may or may not be occurring in Italy while she is "missing," Dunant provides just enough information to allow the reader to jump to conclusions, often incorrect, about what's going on. At the same time, she increases the suspense by having Anna's friend Estella describe the chilling effects of Anna's absence on Lily and the rest of the household back in England.

As the novel races to its conclusion, most readers will probably race along, too, unwilling to take a break till it's finished and the outcome known. It is only after the fact, when we "recollect in tranquility," that the true sense of Dunant's achievement can be appreciated--she has manipulated us like marionettes, and we have loved every minute of it. Mary Whipple

A Gripp