Tuscan Daughter: A Novel - Tuscan Hills, Famous Artists, And the Power of Beauty in Renaissance Italy

by Lisa Rochon Narrated by Carlotta Brentan

Overview

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In Renaissance Florence, a young artist searching for her missing mother is discovered by arch-rivals Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci

In Tuscany during the early 1500s, Beatrice, a peasant girl, finds herself alone in the countryside after her father is killed and her mother disappears into the walled city of Florence. Barefoot and defiant, Beatrice enters the city to sell her family's olive oil to the artists who toil to create masterworks that will elevate the status of the republic.

While selling her wares, Beatrice befriends Michelangelo as he struggles to sculpt David and helps heal a melancholic woman who is having her portrait painted by the brilliant but aging Leonardo. Bonds deepen even while Michelangelo and Leonardo are pitted against each other in a competition organized by Machiavelli.

Set during five epic years, Tuscan Daughter reveals the humanity and struggles of a young woman who longs to find the only family she has left while seeking to be an artist in her own right. In her own way, Beatrice influences the artistic masters of the time to find peace with their inner demons as they stake everything on the power of beauty to transform and inspire.

From the marble sculptures of Michelangelo to the enigmatic smile of the Mona Lisa, Tuscan Daughter celebrates the beauty and power of Italian art, weaving together historical fact and engrossing fiction to create a truly unforgettable reading experience.

HarperCollins 2024

Editorial Reviews

AUGUST 2021 - AudioFile

Narrator Carlotta Brentan transports the listener to the gritty streets of Renaissance Florence in this story of a resilient girl who is surviving on her own. Brentan’s gentle voice captures the youth and innocence of Beatrice, who lives on her meager earnings from selling olive oil to artists while searching for her missing mother. Beatrice befriends rivals Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo, who are differentiated by distinctive voices with similar tones of egotism. They come to Beatrice’s aid in different ways and recognize her artistic talent. Brentan gives Italian accents to names and locations to provide a sense of place and adds personality to the dialogue of the many local characters. The listener will especially enjoy the glimpses of the two artistic greats. J.E.S. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine

Product Details

BN ID:	2940177382067
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	07/13/2021
Edition description:	Unabridged

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