"Renaissance Rome is home to luxury and treachery"
The Serpent And The Pearl
By: Kate Quinn
Genres: Mystery Historical | Historical
Posted: August 7, 2013
In THE SERPENT AND THE PEARL many different folks throng the streets of Rome. Gambler Leonello, a dwarf, spies a pretty maiden on her white horse signifying a bride. Giulia Farnese is happy to wed at eighteen, into a life of luxury with the Orsini family. She meets Carmelina next morning and shortly afterwards the tardy Marco appears, broke from gambling. Holding the upper hand, the cook bargains with her cousin to allow her to stay. But Giulia has been the object of another bargain, for her new husband disappears to the countryside and wealthy Cardinal Borgia propositions the new bride, with a bribe of a pearl necklace when she will not agree. Somehow at Confession the priest makes it her own fault for tempting a man of God. Lucrezia Borgia, daughter and tool of the cardinal, enters as an endearing girl of twelve; who could have foreseen how she would mature? And Carmelina is faced with an agonising choice when she is ordered to introduce a mild poison into Lucrezia's new husband's food....
While I had not read any of Kate Quinn's previous historical books about Rome, I found the culture similar to Sarah Dunant's The Birth of Venus. In a time when religious wealth lured the power-hungry, and Pope Innocent had sixteen illegitimate children, the Borgias were the notorious celebrities. The food descriptions are taken from cookbooks of the day and lovingly presented: white peaches in grappa, roast shoulder of pork with rosemary, the luscious meals of a wealthy household contrasted with the plain fare eaten by the dwarf. I also enjoyed the clothing descriptions, with Lucrezia wearing a fifteen- thousand ducat wedding dress. Kate Quinn is building her story on atmosphere and detail so that we can understand the motivations and entanglements of these historical figures.
THE SERPENT AND THE PEARL is a fascinating read and would enhance any visit to Rome. The book closes with advancing danger and the adventure will continue.
Book Summary
One powerful family holds a city, a faith, and a woman in
its grasp—from the national bestselling author of
Daughters of Rome and Mistress of
Rome.
Rome, 1492. The Holy City is
drenched with blood and teeming with secrets. A pope lies
dying and the throne of God is left vacant, a prize awarded
only to the most virtuous—or the most ruthless. The Borgia
family begins its legendary rise, chronicled by an innocent
girl who finds herself drawn into their dangerous web…
Vivacious Giulia Farnese has floor-length golden hair and the world at her feet: beauty, wealth, and a handsome young husband. But she is stunned to discover that her glittering marriage is a sham, and she is to be given as a concubine to the ruthless, charismatic Cardinal Borgia: Spaniard, sensualist, candidate for Pope—and passionately in love with her.
Two trusted companions will follow her into the Pope's shadowy harem: Leonello, a cynical bodyguard bent on bloody revenge against a mysterious killer, and Carmelina, a fiery cook with a past full of secrets. But as corruption thickens in the Vatican and the enemies begin to circle, Giulia and her friends will need all their wits to survive in the world of the Borgias.
Read an Excerpt
by: Kate Quinn
Berkley
August 1, 2013
On Sale: August 6, 2013
Featuring: Leonello; Giulia Farnese; Carmelina
432 pages
ISBN: 0425259463
EAN: 9780425259467
Kindle: B009RYKXCA
Paperback / e-Book