My lady, Fiammetta Bianchini, was plucking her eyebrows and biting color into her lips when the unthinkable happened and the Holy Roman Emperor’s army blew a hole in the wall of God’s eternal city, letting in a flood of half-starved, half-crazed troops bent on pillage and punishment.
Thus begins , Sarah Dunant’s epic novel of life in Renaissance Italy. Escaping the sack of Rome in 1527, with … Renaissance Italy. Escaping the sack of Rome in 1527, with their stomachs churning on the jewels they have swallowed, the courtesan Fiammetta and her dwarf companion, Bucino, head for Venice, the shimmering city born out of water to become a miracle of east-west trade: rich and rancid, pious and profitable, beautiful and squalid.
With a mix of courage and cunning they infiltrate Venetian society. Together they make the perfect partnership: the sharp-tongued, sharp-witted dwarf, and his vibrant mistress, trained from birth to charm, entertain, and satisfy men who have the money to support her.
Yet as their fortunes rise, this perfect partnership comes under threat, from the searing passion of a lover who wants more than his allotted nights to the attentions of an admiring Turk in search of human novelties for his sultan’s court. But Fiammetta and Bucino’s greatest challenge comes from a young crippled woman, a blind healer who insinuates herself into their lives and hearts with devastating consequences for them all.
A story of desire and deception, sin and religion, loyalty and friendship, In the Company of the Courtesan paints a portrait of one of the world’s greatest cities at its most potent moment in history: It is a picture that remains vivid long after the final page.
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Frankly I was pretty stunned when I saw that no one had ever reviewed this novel on BookBub, because this book is on my list of all-time best historical novels ever. This book contains a bit of everything: escape, scheming, intrigue, romance, fear, loss, friendship, loyalty, love, greed, and graft. I could wax on about each of these aspects, …
I’m sorry, but you can’t call yourself an historical fiction fan if you haven’t read Sarah Dunant’s impeccably crafted Renaissance Italy stories. She really is that good.
I listened to the audio version and thoroughly enjoyed it!
Fast paced and witty view of a courtesan in 1500s Venice. It was amusing and amazing to see her claw her way up to a wealthy and apparently “classy” place in society. The make-up, lotions and creams she used were eye-boggling. The plot is far from predictable as a woman who seems to be a healer becomes a close helper. Entertaining and, in its …
This was the first book I read by Sarah Dunant and It was fabulous as are all the other books she wrote especially the historical fiction. I want more from Dunant. She is one of my favorite authors.
Durant transports the reader back in time through the protagonist’s eyes – a handicapped little person of the age who is full of wit and genius in supporting the Courtesan and co-main character.
Tedious
Very good read…..excellent cgacterisarion.
I love this author, Sara Durant…….give yourself a treat!
Very good book loved it