OFarrell has an uncanny ability to put us in Lucrezias very unusual shoes. Eleonora, Lucrezia's mother, is a smart, driven, organized woman who runs her house on a rigid schedule and with high expectations. Her characters are captivating and believable, and the landscape of Renaissance Italy is a veritable gift to the senses, so powerfully does OFarrell evoke the sights, sounds and smells of forest, castle and barnyard. Every month that Lucrezia bleeds frustrates him more. | ISBN 9780593635322 Maria is hardly cold in her coffin when Alfonsos emissaries propose that Lucrezia would be an acceptable substitute. The knife in a dark corridor? History tells us she married Alfonso in 1558 and, less than a year after moving into his household, was dead at the age of 16. Truly loved it. (Courtesy of Hachette UK). But when her older sister dies on the eve of her wedding to the ruler of Ferrara, Modena and Reggio, Lucrezia is thrust into the limelight: the duke is quick to request her hand in marriage and her father just as quick to accept on her behalf. The Marriage Portrait - Penguin Random House Audio Rumours spread that she had been in fact been poisoned by her husband, Alfonso, Duke of Ferrara. Read Before You Stream: Kids Books With New TV and Movie Adaptations, Browse All Our Lists, Essays, and Interviews. . A note on the table bears the inscription "Nec ulla impudica Lucretiae exemplo vivet" (no unchaste woman shall live by Lucretia's example), a quotation from Livy's account of the suicide. Will be reading this one soon and going to see her talk about the book in a couple of weeks. O'Farrell bases her heroine, Lucrezia de' Medici, on a real-life figure depicted in Robert Browning's poem "My Last Duchess," who was murdered by her husband. As a child of a noble family in Florence, she was untamable and passionate about making art. Is he the playful sophisticate he appeared to be before their wedding, or the ruthless politician before whom even his formidable sisters seem to tremble? She also recounts the history of Lucrezia's betrothal at a young age to Alfonso; he previously had been betrothed to her older sister, who died before they could wed. . The subject holds and points to a print of the Roman heroine Lucretia committing suicide. If you lovedHamnet, Maggie OFarrell is back with Lucrezias story, and shes back with a bang! Whether youre the kind of person who frequently enjoys time-traveling through fiction, or youve been holding out for a second trip back in time with OFarrell, youre in luck: THE MARRIAGE PORTRAIT is another richly imagined, suspenseful, feminist historical novel. Until then, for all of her rank and nobility, the new duchesss future hangs entirely in the balance. The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O'Farrell the layers beneath . It is now in the National Gallery, London, which bought it in 1927. Here are the winners of the 2022 Hugo Awards. Is he the playful sophisticate he appeared to be before their wedding, the aesthete happiest in the company of artists and musicians, or the ruthless politician before whom even his formidable sisters seem to tremble? Brownings Alfonso might have closed a curtain over the portrait of his duchess to declare her his possession, but OFarrell rips that curtain away and gives her a life. . Her lush copper-colored hair, which has never been cut and, unbound, reaches her ankles, is elaborately arranged by a crew of maids. Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction, By clicking SIGN UP,I acknowledge that I have read and agree to Penguin Random Houses, certain categories of personal information, discloses, sells, or shares certain personal information. This is the reason for their sudden journey to such a wild and lonely place. I hope you enjoy it. She is also the author of two books for children, WHERE SNOW ANGELS GO and THE BOY WHO LOST HIS SPARK. The Marriage Portrait Literary Hub Perhaps most mystifying of all is her new husband himself, Alfonso. Start earning points for buying books! The Marriage Portraitby Maggie O Farrell will be published August 30th with Tinder Press and is described as an unforgettable reimagining of the life of a young woman whose proximity to power places her in mortal danger. The Marriage Portrait follows on from the incredibly successful and very much loved Hamnet by Maggie O Farrell, a book which was released in 2020. Many of us have some connection with Shakespeare, through our education or from general interest, but how many of us are as familiar with this period of Renaissance Italy? "I could not stop reading this incredible true story." Reese . THE MARRIAGE PORTRAIT | Kirkus Reviews The Marriage Portrait on Apple Books A couple of years ago, Maggie OFarrell published a stunning, award-winning novel called Hamnet. In it she took inspiration from familiar stories the towering tragedy Hamlet and the life of its author, William Shakespeare and shifted the perspective, writing a moving and gorgeous book about the title character, Shakespeares son Hamnet, and about the playwrights wife. Lucrezia, third daughter of the grand duke, is comfortable with her obscure place in the palazzo: free to devote herself to her own artistic pursuits. Book review: The Marriage Portrait, by Maggie O'Farrell Learn how your comment data is processed. Thank you so so much. Having barely left girlhood behind, Lucrezia must now enter an unfamiliar court whose customs are opaque and where her arrival is not universally welcomed. What was the big surprise to the ending? The Marriage Q&A NPR's Mary Louise Kelly talks with Maggie O'Farrell about her novel The Marriage Portrait, an imagined account of the life of Lucrezia de' Medici, who was rumored to have been murdered by. In one thrilling chapter, Lucrezia encounters a tiger that the duke has had captured and conveyed to a menagerie he maintains in the palazzos basement. She also recounts the history of Lucrezias betrothal at a young age to Alfonso; he previously had been betrothed to her older sister, who died before they could wed. She illustrates the close and loving relationship of Lucrezia to her nursemaid, who ingeniously protected her from marriage for as long as she could. Lucrezia, although only twelve years of age, was betrothed to her sister Marias intended husband, Alfonso II dEste, heir to the Duke of Fererra, Modena and Reggio. by Maggie O'Farrell. . But there is trouble brewing and very quickly Lucrezia realises that her husband is not all that she initially imagined, soon fearing for her very own life.Maggie O Farrell recreates these fraught months with painful scenes that tear at your heart. Set during the Renaissance in Italy,The Marriage Portraitis a dramatic story of resilience and survival that will keep readers on the edge of their seat. The Marriage Portrait aims to brings her out from behind Brownings curtain and into the light. Having barely left girlhood behind, Lucrezia must now enter an unfamiliar court whose customs are opaque and where her arrival is not universally welcomed. BookPage review of The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O'Farrell She is sixteen years old, not quite a year into her marriage. You may know the history, and you may think you know whats coming, but dont be so sure. . But in the end I still appreciate OFarrells writing and wound up liking the end. She would have liked to turn in her saddle and ask, why have you brought me here? [1], It first appears in the written record at the end of the 18th century, when it was in the Pesaro collection in Venice. Alfonso d'Este solemnly entered Florence on 18 May 1558. Sometimes it felt to her like the safest place in the world, a stone keep with a high garrison perimeter to . . To redeem, copy and paste the code during the checkout process. The novel presents a fictionalized account of the life of Lucrezia di Medici, the subject of Robert Browning's poem "My Last Duchess." As Lucrezia sits in constricting finery for a painting intended to preserve her image for centuries to come, one thing becomes worryingly clear. He has brought her here, to this stone fortress, to murder her. Set in the mid 1500s, The Marriage Portrait is the reimagining of the short life and times of Lucrezia, the third daughter of Cosimo de' Medici and his Spanish wife Eleonora. | ISBN 9780593315088, Sep 27, 2022 "I fully expect that over the next few months, this unforgettable book will be the historical novel that everyone is reading and fervently discussing.". For cost savings, you can change your plan at any time online in the Settings & Account section. Much as she did with her moving, vivid Shakespeare tale, Hamnet, OFarrell takes the tiny bit we know about this historical figure and weaves it into a transportive journey. She sets down her cup; she lifts her chin; she turns her eyes on to her husband, Alfonso, Duke of Ferrara, and wonders what will happen next. 1 bestsellers. Lorissa Rineharts authoritative biography makes it clear why Dickey Chapelle, a courageous photojournalist and the first female war correspondent to be killed in combat, deserves wider recognition. O'Farrell has been widely praised for crafting poignant, perceptive depictions of life's unexpected turns. We are experiencing technical difficulties. Fortezza, near Bondeno, 1561. The first days of the marriage bring Lucrezia an unexpected sense of freedom. Want more of our free, weekly newslettersinyourinbox? Keep reading to find out what inspired Maggie OFarrell to write The Marriage Portrait. When Maria dies of an unspecified illness just days before the wedding, 15-year-old Lucrezia is offered in her place. The Marriage Portrait of Lucrezia, Duchess of Ferrara-A Presence Malign By clicking "Sign Up", I acknowledge that I have read and agree to Penguin Random House's Privacy Policy and Terms of Use and understand that Penguin Random House collects certain categories of personal information for the purposes listed in that policy, discloses, sells, or shares certain personal information and retains personal information in accordance with the policy. In The Marriage Portrait, Maggie O'Farrell distorts the historical It first appears in the written record at the end of the 18th century, when it was in the Pesaro collection in Venice. . Born into the wealthiest and most politically powerful family of the Italian Renaissance, teenage Lucrezia was married off to the handsome and ruthless Duke of Ferrara and was dead within the year. The Marriage Portrait WOMEN'S PRIZE FOR FICTION FINALIST REESE'S BOOK CLUB PICK NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLER The author of award-winning Hamnet brings the world of Renaissance Italy to jewel-bright life in this unforgettable fictional portrait of the captivating young duchess Lucrezia de' Medici as she makes her way in a troubled court."I could not stop reading this incredible true story." Reese . Please enable javascript to add items to the cart. She was free-spirited and had a passion for nature, animals and the world around her. a vivid portrait of a turbulent age and a vibrant heroine. Kirkus Reviews, Womens Prize for Fiction Lucrezia, third daughter of the grand duke, is comfortable with her obscure place in the palazzo: free to wonder at its treasures, observe its clandestine workings, and devote herself to her own artistic pursuits. He is setting an elbow on either side of his plate, telling her about coming to this lodgeas he persists in calling itwhen he was a child, how his father used to bring him hunting here. Lucrezia, third daughter of the grand duke, is comfortable with her obscure place in the palazzo: free to devote herself to her own artistic pursuits. The official cause of death was given as putrid fever a catch-all diagnosis that could imply any number of diseases or conditions. What chance does she have against Alfonso, ruler of a province, and a trained soldier? The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O'Farrell review - The Guardian 13 By Dwight Garner Published Sept. 5, 2022 Updated Sept. 7, 2022 Buy. Having barely left girlhood behind, Lucrezia must now enter an unfamiliar court where her arrival is not universally welcomed. When the reader first meets Lucrezia, she's been married for not quite a year and faces mortal danger in what O'Farrell describes as a "wild and lonely place." Her sister was betrothed to Alfonso, who would . Lucrezia, away from her family, has little in the way of allies. She looked, to me, very much like someone who had something she wanted to say. Either way, I knew as soon as I saw her that I had my next novel, that I wanted to imagine the story she might have wanted to tell. The Marriage Portrait is based on the life of Lucrezia de'Medici, born into one of Italy's most illustrious families. If she doesnt, her life is expendable. The bodice and sleeves are separate entities, draped over the credenza and the table. You can still enjoy your subscription until the end of your current billing period. A letter from Alfonso arrives for Lucrezia, along with . The final twist is so unexpected and so gorgeously executed that it brought this reader to tears. Her husband is sitting down, not in his customary place at the opposite end but next to her, close enough that she could rest her head on his shoulder, should she wish; he is unfolding his napkin and straightening a knife and moving the candle towards them both when it comes to her with a peculiar clarity, as if some coloured glass has been put in front of her eyes, or perhaps removed from them, that he intends to kill her. Her novels include AFTER YOUD GONE, MY LOVERS LOVER, THE DISTANCE BETWEEN US, which won a Somerset Maugham Award, THE VANISHING ACT OF ESME LENNOX, THE HAND THAT FIRST HELD MINE, which won the 2010 Costa Novel Award, INSTRUCTIONS FOR A HEATWAVE and THIS MUST BE THE PLACE., and THE MARRIAGE PORTRAIT. OFarrells prose is beautiful and poetic. Lush metaphors and minute description of life in ducal palaces abound in her reimagining of the. Any changes made can be done at any time and will become effective at the end of the trial period, allowing you to retain full access for 4 weeks, even if you downgrade or cancel. . cookies How does The Marriage Portrait amplify aspects of the human experience portrayed in her other novels that you have read? With parents eager to strengthen ties to other noble Italian houses, Lucrezias older sister Maria is betrothed to Alfonso, Duke of Ferrara. Here, however, OFarrell flips the script and tells the story of Alfonsos bride, the one who was portrayed in the portrait at the center of the poem. She wishes she had turned the reins towards the distant hills, where she could have lost herself among the rocky folds and peaks, so that he could never find her. Used with permission of the publisher, Knopf. OFarrell intersperses these scenes of youth and childhood with later scenes of Lucrezias marriage to Alfonso --- from their idyllic honeymoon at a country estate to her eventual presentation at court. She comes to fear his best friend, the enigmatic Leonello Baldassare, and her only respite is a careful friendship with Maurizio and Jacopo, two young apprentices to the painter that Alfonso has commissioned to make her portrait. The marriage is delayed somewhat by wars, affairs of state and Sofias machinations, but by the time shes 15 Lucrezia is facing her wedding day. Portrait of a Woman Inspired by Lucretia is an oil-on-canvas portrait by the Italian Renaissance artist Lorenzo Lotto, created c. 1533. She said nothing, however, allowing her mare to follow him along the path, through dripping trees, over the arch-backed bridge and into the courtyard of the strange, fortified, star-shaped building, which seemed, even then, to strike her as peculiarly empty of people.