by Leonie Frieda
Release Date: April 12, 2012
SYNOPSIS
The book is one of drama on a grand scale, a Renaissance epic, as
Christendom emerged from the shadows of the calamitous 14th century. The
sweeping tale involves inspired and corrupt monarchs, the finest
thinkers, the most brilliant artists, and the greatest beauties in
Christendom. Here are the stories of its most remarkable women, who are
all joined by birth, marriage and friendship and who ruled for a time in
place of their men-folk: Lucrezia Turnabuoni (Queen Mother of Florence,
the power behind the Medici throne), Clarice Orsini (Roman princess,
feudal wife), Beatrice d'Este (Golden Girl of the Renaissance), Caterina
Sforza (Lioness of the Romagna), Isabella d'Este (the Acquisitive
Marchesa), Giulia Farnese ('la bella', the family asset), Isabella
d'Aragona (the Weeping Duchess) and Lucrezia Borgia (the Virtuous Fury).
The men play a secondary role in this grand saga; whenever possible the
action is seen through the eyes our heroines. These eight women
experienced great riches, power and the warm smile of fortune, but they
also knew banishment, poverty, the death of a husband or the loss of one
or more of their children. As each of the chosen heroines comes to the
fore in her turn, she is handed the baton by her 'sister' and Leonie
Frieda recounts the role each woman played in the hundred-year drama
that is THE DEADLY SISTERHOOD.
The Renaissance is such a remarkable time period...so much available to mine for novelists. Woo hoo
ReplyDeleteSounds so good.
ReplyDeleteSounds fabulous -- and I adore the cover!
ReplyDeleteWomen may not have been rulers of countries or often of their fate. These women were obviously the power behind the men in their lives. Unfortunately, life and history are seldom kind to them.
ReplyDelete