The birth of venus, author sarah dunant won britains prestigious silver dagger award for fatlands, a. Apr 03, 2014 blood and beauty by the accomplished sarah dunant is a romp through renaissance rome which provoked much divergent discussion at our book group. Blood and beauty is dunants tenth novel, and her fourth to be set in renaissance italy. Sarah dunant has visited the turbulent beauty of the italian renaissance before, in rich historical novels like the birth of venus. When cardinal rodrigo borgia buys his way into the papacy as alexander. Sarah dunant is the author of the international bestsellers the birth of venus, in the company of the courtesan, sacred hearts and blood and beauty her first look at the borgia family, which have received major acclaim on both sides of the atlantic. Free shipping and pickup in store on eligible orders. Sarah dunant s most popular book is the birth of venus. Eclipsing her earlier period novels in scope, dunant s sacred hearts, 2009, etc. Like hilary mantel with her cromwell trilogy, sarah dunant has scaled new heights by refashioning mythic figures according to contemporary literary taste. The borgias, novelist sarah dunant explores the story of the powerful and notorious family. Blood and beauty is dunant s tenth novel, and her fourth to be set in renaissance italy. Dunant pays these debts with a passion that makes me want to go straight out and read all her other books. By the end of the fifteenth century, the beauty and creativity of italy is matched by its brutality and corruption, nowhere more than in rome and inside the church.
Blood and beauty by the accomplished sarah dunant is a romp through renaissance rome which provoked much divergent discussion at our book group. When cardinal rodrigo borgia buys his way into the papacy, he is defined not just by his wealth, charisma and power, but by his blood. Sarah dunant is a cultural commentator, awardwinning thriller writer and author of five novels set in renaissance italy exploring womens lives through art, sex and religion. The big, bad borgia dynasty undergoes modern reconsideration in sarah dunants epic new biofiction. The new york times bestselling author of the acclaimed italian renaissance novelsthe birth of venus, in the company of the courtesan. She is the daughter of david dunant, a former welsh airline steward who later became manager of british airways, and his french wife.
An epic tale of dynasty, this novel also manages to be an intimate exploration of familial ties and relationships. Buy the paperback book blood and beauty by sarah dunant at indigo. Sarah dunant is a renowned english writer along with being a broadcaster and critic. The big, bad borgia dynasty undergoes modern reconsideration in the bestselling british authors epic new biofiction. The novel also includes vivid descriptions of the gorgeous art and architecture of rome, especially within vatican city. Sarah dunants most popular book is the birth of venus. This is a wonderful, allconsuming feast of a novel, which id recommend to anyone with an interest in historical fiction. Blood and beauty is a classic work of historical fiction written in the style of an embellished, thrilling account. Mar 11, 2014 blood and beauty by the accomplished sarah dunant is a romp through renaissance rome which provoked much divergent discussion at our book group.
She has two daughters, and lives in london and florence. May 02, 20 sarah dunant is one my favourite writers, and i found myself comparing it with her other three books set in the italian renaissance. Blood and beauty by sarah dunant overdrive rakuten. Her earlier novels include more about sarah dunant. Jun 20, 20 in the 1500s, italy was bursting with some of the most influential and vivid figures in history. The first book revolves around the life of alessandra cecchi who is a 15 year old girl of a wealthy cloth merchant. Dunant talks about the process of researching and reconstructing. Sarah dunants blood and beauty, the fourth of her italian historical novels and the initial instalment in what is planned to be a twopart saga, is her first since mantels colossal success. May 02, 20 sarah dunant s blood and beauty, the fourth of her italian historical novels and the initial instalment in what is planned to be a twopart saga, is her first since mantels colossal success. By the end of the fifteenth century, the beauty and creativity of italy is matched only by its brutality and corruption. The plots were of course intriguing and characters were fascinating though there were many questions about their authenticity and the detail of their lives. Jul 07, 20 in her evocation of this scene in blood and beauty, her novel about the notorious borgias, sarah dunant sends papal guards rushing to save their lord, throwing themselves onto the pile.
Sarah dunant books list of books by author sarah dunant. British novelist, broadcaster, and critic sarah dunant is well known on both sides of the pond for her bestselling series of mysteries featuring sleuth hannah wolfe. This is the longawaited sequel to sarah dunant s wonderful blood and beauty, which takes up the story of the borgias once again in the final years of their dominance in italy. In blood and beauty, dunant follows the path set by hilary mantel with wolf hall and bring up the bodies. Browse author series lists, sequels, pseudonyms, synopses, book covers, ratings and awards. Blood and beauty by sarah dunant, 9780812981612, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Now sarah dunant turns her discerning eye to one of the worlds most intriguing and infamous familiesthe borgiasin an engrossing work of literary fiction. Jul 16, 20 now sarah dunant turns her discerning eye to one of the worlds most intriguing and infamous familiesthe borgiasin an engrossing work of literary fiction. In her first three she steered clear of famous figures and gave us stories of strong, ordinary women, so an epic novel about the notorious borgia family is something of a departure. Sarah dunants blood and beauty, the fourth of her italian historical novels and the initial instalment in what is planned to be a twopart saga. This trilogy focused on the lives of women during the era of italian renaissance. This intellectually satisfying historical saga, which offers blood and beauty certainly, but brains too, is surely the best thing she has done to date. Sarah dunant has 26 books on goodreads with 262346 ratings.
It does make the story less engaging and a bit harder to follow or immerse oneself in, but it allows the reader to have a bit more sympathy for this infamous family and their intrigues. She brings fifteenthcentury italian cities vividly alive. The new york times bestselling author of the acclaimed italian renaissance novels the birth of. The borgias, novelist sarah dunant explores the story of the. Buy blood and beauty book online at low prices in india. Terrifying, dark and bold, sarah dunants breakthrough psychological thriller transcends genres and audiences. The immense success of these books around the globe allowed sarah to devote her entire time to concentrate on research and writing. Acclaimed novelist of the italian renaissance sarah dunant now takes on the eras most infamous family.
By the end of the fifteenth century, the beauty and creativity of italy is matched by its brutality and corruption, nowhere more than in rome and in the church. A powerhouse of the italian renaissance, their very name epitomizes the ruthless politics and sexual corruption of the papacy. Sarah was raised by her father david dunant, who was a steward for the welsh airlines and later became a manager at the british airways along with his wife estelle who. Diana gabaldon, the washington post bestselling novelist sarah dunant has long been drawn to the high drama of renaissance italy. The unique quality of this story lies in changes wrought by pope alexander vi. She is married with two daughters, and lives in london and florence. Everyday low prices on a huge range of new releases and classic fiction. The father, pope alexander vi, a consummate politician and a man with a voracious appetite both as cardinal and pope. Eclipsing her earlier period novels in scope, dunants sacred hearts, 2009, etc.
At the beginning of 1502, it seems that nothing can stand in the way of the familys influence, which creeps its way across italy, subduing its rivals with a. Sarah dunant born 8 august 1950 is a british novelist, journalist, broadcaster, and critic. In her evocation of this scene in blood and beauty, her novel about the notorious borgias, sarah dunant sends papal guards rushing to save their lord, throwing themselves onto the pile, tearing. Sarah dunant is the author of the international bestsellers the birth of venus, in the company of the courtesan, and sacred hearts, which have received major acclaim on both sides of the atlantic. Sarah dunant is the author of the international bestsellers the birth of venus, in the company of the courtesan, sacred hearts, and blood and beauty, which have received major acclaim on both sides of the atlantic. As an acclaimed author of italian historical novels, it was only a matter of time until sarah dunant turned her attention to the notorious borgia. I was inspired to download blood and beauty having read dunant s sacred hearts and in the company of the courtesan.
A novel about the borgias ebook written by sarah dunant. Sarah dunant paints a fascinating picture of renaissance italy and the human dramas of the scheming borgias stephanie merritt sat 25 may 20 10. Sarahs monthly history program and podcast on history can be found via the bbc website. She was born on 8 august 1950 in london, england and lived there until she went to college. The big, bad borgia dynasty undergoes modern reconsideration in sarah dunant s epic new biofiction. Im not sure if i was spoiled by the miniseries released about the borgias, but i almost gave up on this book because half of it felt like a history lesson, which i had not noticed in the other three books ive read. With her first historical novel, the birth of venus, dunant explores another scene.