Very few knew Antonia, despite her fame as La Stella di Venezia. In decadent 18th century Venice, she develops from Vivaldi’s star pupil into his musical colleague and the pride of Venetian music.After falling in love with Orlando Sagredo – master planner of the Palio – Antonia recognizes the emotional bondage she has never questioned.Antonia of Venice is inhabited by brilliant musicians, … musicians, avaricious politicians and ineffectual rulers of the Republic. Through it all, the people and music Antonia loves take the reader into the depths of revenge and selflessness, as the story advances the timeless, feminine heroic as a powerful and equal partner to the masculine.
Praise:
★★★★★ – “Drama, pathos, love, intrigue, murder… highly recommended.”
★★★★★ – “Ellyn Peirson’s Antonia of Venice is a work of art not to be missed.”
★★★★★ – “Gripping, mystical and sometimes dark, this one of the most remarkable books I have read in years.”
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This excessively wordy book could have been half its length if the author didn’t embellish every thought with flowery and redundant language. I was speed-reading it to find the predictable plot. The story was woven around two established facts of composer Vivaldi’s life: that he was the conductor of an all-girl orchestra comprised of female orphans in a convent for many years, and that he took a child prodigy under his wing and she lived with him until he died. It should have been lyrical (and it had its moments) but was tedious instead.
I enjoyed this romantic novel written about a young orphan girl named Antonia who was raised by Maestro Antonio Vivaldi in 18th century Venice. Based on some of Antonia’s diary entries, the author spun a tragic and romantic tale that gave insightful glimpses of Antonia’s artistic life, her lonlieness, and her rise to the position of Maestra set against a web of revenge and power-seeking politicians.
I really liked this book. It kept me interested and informed from an Historical perspective
Really enjoyed this book
Like ed it very much.
I enjoyed it but is not for those who want a happy ending.
This is a very sad story. Similar to all star crossed loves and an interesting peek at the 1700’s in Italy and the music scene of the day.
This book is one of most amazing books I’ve read on bookbub!!!
So heartbreaking yet I was sorry for it to end.
I just couldn’t get into this book and I love Venice.
I didn’t like the ending. It was sad. I wanted Antonia to get back with Orlando and it didn’t happen.
I loved this book —I love music and so that made it really special for me –plus I love to read stories that go back to those times, like the 1700’s —What great characters in the story —it was a sad ending, but it was the only kind of ending I guess it could have had and been true to the nature of the characters. Add it all up, it was a great story.
Interesting historical possibilities
A lovely book that takes you away to another, old word of music and its significance in the Catholic church.It can be slow, but perhaps that’s the author’s attempt to signify the the slow moving times of centuries past.
Descriptive of both settings and characters.,
Good writer…
I enjoyed reading a fictionalized version of a real person I had never heard about. As a music major in college, I had learned about Antonio Vivaldi, of course, but had never heard about this very important woman in his life.
A lovely story!
A Romeo and Juliet type of book but with real life characters, i.e., Vivaldi and Ann Gerourd, his protege and orphaned “daughter”. If Vivaldi and music is something that is if of interest to you; that is different, and with a twist you don’t expect at first I think the reader will enjoy this one. I certainly did not want to put it down and it was definitely a lengthy book!
Good story that took me back to the city but added the political elements of past life there.
While it’s a bit slow and predictable, it has a good flavor of the time and place.