WOMEN’SPRIZEFORFICTIONFINALIST-REESE’SBOOKCLUBPICK-NEWYORKTIMESBESTSELLER-Theauthorofaward-winningHamnetbringstheworldofRenaissanceItalytojewel-brightlifeinthisunforgettablefictionalportraitofthecaptivatingyoungduchessLucreziade’Mediciasshemakesherwayinatroubledcourt.“Icouldnotstopreadingthisincredibletruestory.“--ReeseWitherspoon(Reese’sBookClubPick)“O’Farrellpullsoutlittlethreadsofhistoricaldetailtoweavethisstoryofaprecociousgirlsensitivetothecontradictionsofherstation...Youmayknowthehistory,andyoumaythinkyouknowwhat’scoming,butdon’tbesosure.“--TheWashingtonPostFlorence,the1550s.Lucrezia,thirddaughterofthegrandduke,iscomfortablewithherobscureplaceinthepalazzo:freetowonderatitstreasures,observeitsclandestineworkings,anddevoteherselftoherownartisticpursuits.ButwhenheroldersisterdiesontheeveofherweddingtotherulerofFerrara,ModenaandReggio,Lucreziaisthrustunwittinglyintothelimelight:thedukeisquicktorequestherhandinmarriage,andherfatherjustasquicktoacceptonherbehalf.Havingbarelyleftgirlhoodbehind,Lucreziamustnowenteranunfamiliarcourtwhosecustomsareopaqueandwhereherarrivalisnotuniversallywelcomed.Perhapsmostmystifyingofallishernewhusbandhimself,Alfonso.Ishetheplayfulsophisticateheappearedtobebeforetheirwedding,theaesthetehappiestinthecompanyofartistsandmusicians,ortheruthlesspoliticianbeforewhomevenhisformidablesistersseemtotremble?AsLucreziasitsinconstrictingfineryforapaintingintendedtopreserveherimageforcenturiestocome,onethingbecomesworryinglyclear.Inthecourt’seyes,shehasoneduty:toprovidetheheirwhowillshoreupthefutureoftheFerranesedynasty.Untilthen,forallofherrankandnobility,thenewduchess’sfuturehangsentirelyinthebalance.FullofthebeautyandemotionwithwhichsheilluminatedtheShakespeareancanvasofHamnet,MaggieO’FarrellturnshertalentstoRenaissanceItalyinanextraordinaryportraitofaresilientyoungwoman’sbattleforherverysurvival.
