![]() ![]() So my overall experience with this book was a positive one. The characters all seemed to run together & at times, I'm afraid I lost track of which sister was "speaking." On the plus side, this book made me want to know more about each character & their actual histories. It's possible that the narrator - even though she seemed to be a good reader - lacked that certain spark that makes for a great audiobook. Perhaps if I had read, rather than listened to, this book, I might have had a much different opinion. It focuses on their relationships with their politically powerful husbands, with each other, and (marginally) with Leonardo da Vinci. The story is told from the viewpoints of sisters Isabella & Beatrice d'Este - two of the most influential women of the Italian Renaissance. So I almost hate to say that I wasn't captivated by this audiobook. The time around the turn of the 16th century in Italy is rich in events, political intrigue and fascinating characters. LEONARDO’S SWANS Kirkus Reviews In her third historical novel (Pharaoh, 2002, etc.), Essex shifts her focus to 15th-century Italy, where politics and art determine the private ambitions and intrigues of the Estes sisters. The story itself is quite good - but almost completely due to the subject matter. This is a novel in which all the main characters are actual historical figures. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |