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I, Mona Lisa, by Jeanne Kalogridis
Download PDF I, Mona Lisa, by Jeanne Kalogridis
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"My name is Lisa di Antonio Gherardini Giocondo, though to acquaintances, I am known simply as Madonna Lisa. My story begins not with my birth but a murder, committed the year before I was born…"
Florence, April 1478: The handsome Giuliano de' Medici is brutally assassinated in Florence's magnificent Duomo. The shock of the murder ripples throughout the great city, from the most renowned artists like Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo, to a wealthy wool merchant and his extraordinarily beautiful daughter, Madonna Lisa.
More than a decade later, Florence falls under the dark spell of the preacher Savonarola, a fanatic who burns paintings and books as easily as he sends men to their deaths. Lisa, now grown into an alluring woman, captures the heart of Giuliano's nephew and namesake. But when Guiliano, her love, meets a tragic end, Lisa must gather all her courage and cunning to untangle a sinister web of illicit love, treachery, and dangerous secrets that threatens her life.
Set against the drama of 15th Century Florence, I, Mona Lisa is painted in many layers of fact and fiction, with each intricately drawn twist told through the captivating voice of Mona Lisa herself.
- Sales Rank: #1048513 in Books
- Brand: St. Martin's Griffin
- Published on: 2006-10-31
- Released on: 2006-10-31
- Original language: English
- Number of items: 1
- Dimensions: 8.25" h x 1.20" w x 5.50" l,
- Binding: Paperback
- 544 pages
- Great product!
From Publishers Weekly
Set against a backdrop of political and religious conflicts in 15th-century Medici-ruled Florence, Kalogridis's bloody historical (after The Borgia Bride) identifies the subject of Leonardo da Vinci's painting as Lisa di Antonio Gherardini. Lisa was the daughter of Madonna Lucrezia, wife of a wealthy wool merchant who also enchanted both da Vinci and Lorenzo de' Medici's brother Giuliano, murdered by conspirators in 1478. Giuliano's assassination—and the later murder of Lucrezia—presage a reign of religious terror led by a monk known as Savonarola and the retreat of the Medicis in the face of invasion from France's King Charles. An adult Lisa attracts the romantic attentions of a young Medici scion, whom she marries for love. (His father, Lorenzo, commissions her portrait from da Vinci.) But violent events soon separate the couple and a brutal Savonarola follower tells Lisa that her husband is dead—and her father's life in danger—unless she marries him instead. Lisa survives, an avenging angel, proving herself worthy of da Vinci's immortal artistry. Kalogridis's fevered bodice ripper invents a passionate woman behind La Gioconda's enigmatic smile. (Nov.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Review
“From sexual passion to mortal danger, the dramatic shift of real historical events will keep the reader turning the pages.” ―Philippa Gregory, author of The Other Boleyn Girl on The Borgia Bride
“Entertaining.” ―USA Today on The Borgia Bride
“...a dramatic tale from a heady mix of royal power plays and passion.” ―Publishers Weekly on The Borgia Bride
About the Author
Jeanne Kalogridis lives with her partner on the West Coast, where they share a house with two dogs. She is the author of The Borgia Bride, The Scarlet Contessa, The Devil's Queen, and other dark fantasy and historical novels. Born in Florida, Kalogridis has a B.A. in Russian and a master's in linguistics, and taught English as a second language at The American University for eight years before retiring to write full-time.
Most helpful customer reviews
48 of 51 people found the following review helpful.
A perfect example of Historical Fiction at its finest!
By MLRapp
After having loved "The Borgia Bride" by Jeanne Kalogridis, I was looking forward to "I, Mona Lisa" with high expectations and was delighted to pour through this wonderful novel filled with historical fact blended with innovative fiction, and twists and turns galore. Set in Florence in the 1490s, the novel tells the story of Madonna Lisa, the woman behind Leondardo DiVinci's masterpiece. The story is a clever and romantic possibility of the reason behind that famous smile (or lack thereof?).
If you enjoy historical fiction, "I, Mona Lisa" and "The Borgia Bride" are two examples of the genre at its finest: wonderful character development, rich plots, a studied knowledge of the place, times and characters (you will recognise famous historical figures throughout both novels), a careful weaving of fact and fiction, and just enough twists and turns to keep the modern reader both interested and engaged. I highly recommend both novels!
P.S. DO NOT READ THE BACK OF THE BOOK PRIOR TO READING IT!!!! Whomever wrote the blurb on the back of this novel certainly didn't want the readers to be shocked about one of the interesting plot-twists more than halfway through the novel. If you want to be surprised and enjoy this book to its fullest, I highly recommend NOT reading the back of the book!
33 of 35 people found the following review helpful.
Kalogridis' best!
By ellen
Ms. Kalogridis has hit her stride - she makes historical characters come to life - while her The Borgia Bride showed the Borgias in Rome, Mona Lisa shows a different prospective around the same time in Florence. A time of the Medicis, Savonarola, Leonardo. I, Mona Lisa introduces us to the real Mona Lisa, who is the daughter of a wool merchant. When she marries a Medici, becomes embroiled in the turmoil of the time - The main influence of the time was Savanarola - talk about your mad monk - his words crumble Florence - This book makes history come to life. Kalogridis is an amazing writer. She doesn't crank books out every six months, she creates a full picture of whatever era she is writing about, and it's worth the wait. I have been a fan of Kalogridis since the old vampire days (her family Dracul is a must read for fans of Dracula). She is a gracious lady who deserves every accolade she gets. Keep 'em coming Jeanne!
20 of 23 people found the following review helpful.
Your smile will be no secret while reading this tale of Renaissance intrigue and love
By Amazon Customer
The real history of the Italian Renaissance needs little doctoring to make it an engrossing topic - it's full of intrigue, warring families, corrupt Papal power mongers, astonishing wealth and poverty, poisonings, artistic and scientific creativity and amazing beauty. Kalogridis has a wonderful knack for selecting delectible real stories, conducting meticulous research, and then using her pen to write in the missing (possible) personal pieces with results that are a gift to read.
The story she created for "I, Mona Lisa" fills in the blanks behind the secretive smile that has captured the imaginations of millions. The outrageous real events of the time (the Pazzi conspiracy & murders; Savonarola and his priest posse; the corrupt Borgia papacy, etc) are a no-fail back drop for this enthralling story of a love-struck wool merchant's daughter who becomes a political pawn caught up in the espianoge swirling around the Medici, Pazzi and the Church.
The story of Lisa di Antonio Gherardini, the name of the woman believed to be the sitter for Leonardo da Vinci's most famous portrait, follows a familiar formula. We meet her as a young teen and with her witness several traumatic events which fuel her adolescent angst and rebellion against her father. This merchant's daughter manages to capture the eye and then the heart of a Medici prince, and her wiley slave helps her plot to follow her heart. Suddenly bad things happen, danger lurks, and the plot becomes sinister and suspenseful... Lisa takes foolish risks, and then more bad things happen... you just keep turning pages and losing sleep! I won't ruin the ending... but follow the formula. In this light, Kalogridis has not accomplished anything new, but she has certainly excelled at bringing this formula to life!
The joy of this book is Kalogridis' ability to paint such an alive picture of the fear, suspense & political intrigue of Florence during the end of Lorenzo the Magnificent's reign and the subsequent oppressive rule of Savonarola (read "April Blood" by Lauro Martines or watch the "The Medici: God Fathers of the Renaissance" DVD set to compare her story with historical fact). Those who have visited Florence will appreciate the detail with which she describes the buildings and layout of the city - you will re-visit as you read.
Some reviewers have categorized "I, Mona Lisa" as a historical romance. I respectfully disagree - the romantic interest of Lisa may be the force which drives her survival under the circumstances of the story, but the political intrigue of the time is the theme which dominates. Regardless, both history buffs & romantics will be satisfied by the plentiful supply of accurate facts AND unrequitted love that remains alive in the most hopeless of circumstances.
Keep writing, Ms. Kalogridis - I will keep reading!
(I highly recommend "The Borgia Bride" by Jeanne Kalogridis as well - I believe I enjoyed that even more than this one!)
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