A tour de force of history and imagination, The Lady and the Unicorn is Tracy Chevalier’s answer to the mystery behind one of the art world’s great masterpieces—a set of bewitching medieval tapestries that hangs today in the Cluny Museum in Paris. They appear to portray the seduction of a unicorn, but the story behind their making is unknown—until now.Paris, 1490. A shrewd French nobleman … French nobleman commissions six lavish tapestries celebrating his rising status at Court. He hires the charismatic, arrogant, sublimely talented Nicolas des Innocents to design them. Nicolas creates havoc among the women in the house—mother and daughter, servant, and lady-in-waiting—before taking his designs north to the Brussels workshop where the tapestries are to be woven. There, master weaver Georges de la Chapelle risks everything he has to finish the tapestries—his finest, most intricate work—on time for his exacting French client. The results change all their lives—lives that have been captured in the tapestries, for those who know where to look.
In The Lady and the Unicorn, Tracy Chevalier weaves fact and fiction into a beautiful, timeless, and intriguing literary tapestry—an extraordinary story exquisitely told.
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This was a pleasure to read — an engaging story, on the light side, and lots of interesting information about tapestry-making in the 16th Century.
I adored the author’s Girl With the Pearl Earring, so I jumped into this as soon as my book club offered it. I admit I found some premises hard to believe. I won’t be a spoiler, but as I got in to the story, I became engrossed. I particularly enjoyed the sections about the making of the tapestries and fifteenth century life in the guilds. As I continued to read , I did become engrossed in the plot which settled down considerably. If you enjoy historical fiction, you will probably enjoy this.
I liked the historical story and the lives of the characters in it.
I liked it but thought the descriptive sex scenes were totally unnecessary and took away from the book. I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone because if that. It’s too bad because it was an original concept and could have been a great book.
Although I didn’t care for the main character, the story was interesting. I wish the author didn’t periodically get bogged in describing something infinitum.
I found this disappointing by an author I usually enjoy.
Excuread. Inspired to look for the tapestries on line.
Great read.
This a good book. I learned a lot about tapestry. I’d never heard of these tapestries and I spent some time outside the story researching them. I think the author did a good job writing a story about these works of art when it seems uncertain we will never know for sure their origin.
I was very disappointed in this book.Dull!
Have seen the needlework of the tapestry. Wonderful story where you learn about a craft.
Sorry, I just couldn’t get into it.
This book was packed with interesting twists and turns. The ending was just ‘wicked’ in an entertaining way!
took me a bit to get into this but really wove a story
After having really enjoyed The Girl With the Pearl Earrings, I was looking forward to a good read. I also love the unicorn tapestries at the Cloisters Musurm in NY. I would stand and absorb them forces long as possible on trips to the museum as a child. So, perhaps my expectations were just too high.
While interesting and engaging, I found it a bit jolting to move from the perspective of one character to the next to the next. But, overall it was an easy and fast read- I was through it ina couple days.
I do appreciate her use of language to set the scene. Clearly a great deal of research went into the book. There was much period specific context.
Unfortunately, the ending was abrupt after the delivery of the tapestries to the purchaser. There is a paragraph summarizing the outcome/life for each of the main characters, that seem to suggest that all but one or two ended up trapped in less than satisfying lives.
Love Tracy Chevalier’s books. This wasn’t my absolute favorite (I.e. character who wanted to “plow”all the young girls). Did enjoy the historical aspect and story surrounding the Lady and Unicorn tapestries. Very interesting and entertaining.
A wonderful tale built around the Unicorn Tapestries now in the Cluny Museum in Paris. A fascinating historical novel. Since I have seen the tapestries the book was especially interesting to me. The cast of characters are unforgettable.
Tracy is one of my all time favorite author. I have never
been disappointed in book of hers that I have read and
in some cases reread a few. The only thing is she is so easy to read that it seems as if
My favorite of her historical novels thus far. The book tells the story of creating the unicorn tapestries that hang in the Cluny museum in Paris. For me, the best part of the book was what I learned about the creative process.
A fictional account of how the lady and unicorn tapestries came to be woven. The author explains the innovative methods and art used. Since I spent time on three visits to examine these weavings, I found the book very helpful explaining the techniques. Much better than the more famous Pearl Earring book.