Book Description
My lady, Fiammetta Bianchini, was plucking her eyebrows and biting color into her lips when the unthinkable happened and the Holy Roman Emperor’s army blew a hole in the wall of God’s eternal city, letting in a flood of half-starved, half-crazed troops bent on pillage and punishment.
Thus begins
In the Company of the Courtesan, Sarah Dunant’s epic novel of life in Renaissance Italy. Escaping the sack of Rome in 1527, with their stomachs churning on the jewels they have swallowed, the courtesan Fiammetta and her dwarf companion, Bucino, head for Venice, the shimmering city born out of water to become a miracle of east-west trade: rich and rancid, pious and profitable, beautiful and squalid.
With a mix of courage and cunning they infiltrate Venetian society. Together they make the perfect partnership: the sharp-tongued, sharp-witted dwarf, and his vibrant mistress, trained from birth to charm, entertain, and satisfy men who have the money to support her.
Yet as their fortunes rise, this perfect partnership comes under threat, from the searing passion of a lover who wants more than his allotted nights to the attentions of an admiring Turk in search of human novelties for his sultan’s court. But Fiammetta and Bucino’s greatest challenge comes from a young crippled woman, a blind healer who insinuates herself into their lives and hearts with devastating consequences for them all.
A story of desire and deception, sin and religion, loyalty and friendship,
In the Company of the Courtesan paints a portrait of one of the world’s greatest cities at its most potent moment in history: It is a picture that remains vivid long after the final page.
From the Hardcover edition.
Customer Reviews:
A Masterpiece of Accuracy.......2007-08-09
a well researched, documentary quality history, entriging, believable charcters, engaging story.
Thank you Sarah Dunant, another good read.
Richly Descriptive Period Piece........2007-07-30
This book has most everything you would want in a period piece. It contains unique richly developed characters, intrigue, humor, & a deep plot. The sights, sounds, smells, & ambiance of 16th century Venice are almost lifelike. There is a fine mingling of social mores & politics that leads to many types of betrayal that keep the reader guessing. The author tells Fiammetta's story through the eyes of Bucino, a clever dwarf who shares her lodgings. He eventually will be the main character. The story begins in 1527 with the sacking of Rome. Fiammetta, is ravaged by the invaders & flees the city with Bucino{a loyal caretaker, & sardonic, resourceful spy}, with little else but the clothes on their backs, & some swallowed jewels. They reach Fiammetta's deceased mother's home in Venice. Soon La Draga, a mysterious, blind woman comes into their lives to nurse Fiammetta back to her original health & beauty. After a long recuperation she sets out to be the highly desired Courtesan she had been back in Rome. But, clearly she has not recovered as she gets more businesslike & cold as the book advances. Her lovers & friends are well done 7 most have an impact on the general theme. The most interesting relationship in the book is between La Draga & Bucino. their relationship will eventually put Fiammetta into the background, while these two characters play out their dramatic fates. The only minor flaw is that it was a too long, had it been a bit shorter in reaching the end I would have given it 5 stars.
Diluted Sexuality in the Company of the Courtesan?.......2007-07-25
Dunant is a brilliant and poetic writer, which makes the book well worth the read. However, I agree with other reviewers that, for a book about sexuality and intrigue, it certainly lacks passion. While "The Birth of Venus" was provocative, this book was disappointingly tame. The most beautifully written passages of the book concern Bucino's thoughts and memories, and he also happens to be the only intriguing character. Fiammetta, who was supposedly so charming, certainly failed to impress. Only in the first chapter was she as mesmerizing as the author wanted her to be. The ending was rather anticlimactic, abrupt, and unsatisfying. These criticisms aside, the book was still entertaining, yet not quite as memorable as "The Birth of Venus."
Audio to text: Bravo!.......2007-07-09
I have to say the audio of this fine book is the first book I've listened to on CD, and I had a fine time of it! So much so that I bought the hardcover book and am now immersed in that. I didn't just want the abridged version. I wanted the whole cake.
--James Conroyd Martin, Author of PUSH NOT THE RIVER Push Not the River and AGAINST A CRIMSON SKY Against a Crimson Sky: A Novel
In the Company of the Courtesan.......2007-07-04
I had just read "Birth of Venus" by this author and decided to try a second one. That period of history in Italy interest me, and I think she does an outstanding job of weaving history and fiction into both novels.
Book Description
Skilled in passion, artful in deception, and driven by betrayal, she is the glittering center of the royal court–but the most desired woman of Renaissance France will draw the wrath of a dangerous adversary.
Paris, 1575. The consort of some of Europe’s most influential men, Gabrielle Cheney is determined to secure her future by winning the heart of Henry, the Huguenot king of Navarre. As his mistress, Gabrielle hopes she might one day become the power behind the French throne. But her plans are jeopardized by Captain Nicolas Rémy, a devoted warrior whose love Gabrielle desires–and fears–above all. She will also incur the malevolence of the Dark Queen, Catherine de’ Medici, whose spies and witch-hunters are legion, and who will summon the black arts to maintain her authority. With the lives of those she loves in peril, Gabrielle must rebel against her queen to fulfill a glorious destiny she has sacrificed everything to gain.
Alive with vivid period detail and characters as vibrant as they are memorable, The Courtesan is a sweeping historical tale of dangerous intrigues, deep treachery, and one woman’s unshakable resolve to honor her heart.
Download Description
Chapter One
Gabrielle Cheney peered through the slits of her mask, picking her way carefully along the path overgrown with weeds. The courtyard of the Maison d’ Esprit was silent as a ceme- tery and twice as eerie. The moon cast a pale light over moss- blackened fountains and broken statuary. Some headless saint presided over the withered remains of a rose garden. The flowers were long gone, but the thorns were not, one branch catching at the hem of Gabrielle’s cloak.
As she bent to free herself, she was beset by the troubling sensation that had afflicted her all evening. The feeling that she was being followed. Straightening, she curled her fingers over the hilt of the sword hidden beneath her cloak and whirled around. The iron gate and stone wall were nothing more than vague outlines in the fog-bound night. But as she stared, another figure took shape, that of a tall proud warrior.
Her hand fell away from the sword and she uttered a soft choked cry. Not of fear, but more of despair because she had seen the silhouette of this man far too many times in her dreams. She took a step forward only to check the motion, knowing it would do her no good. There would be no smile to greet her, no strong arms to welcome her because he didn’t exist, this phantom man. All she would find was empty space and silence.
Ghosts left no footfalls and memories cast no shadows, except perhaps on the human heart. She watched the figure of the man evaporate into the mist as he always did. Gabrielle had never once seen his face, but she knew beyond certainty who he was.
Nicolas Remy, the captain from Navarre. Whether it was his ghost she kept seeing or only a figment of her own tormented imagination, the effect was always the same. Gabrielle’s heart constricted with sorrow and guilt.
“Oh, Remy,” she murmured. “I’ve asked your forgiveness a thousand times. What more do you want from me? Why can’t you leave me in peace?”
She knew she would never gain any answer to that question, at least not in this damp, misty courtyard. With one last glance behind her, Gabrielle turned and hastened toward the house.
The stone manor loomed ahead of her, splintered wood and a great hole where the front door should be, gaping like the jagged mouth of some fierce beast ready to devour her. But Gabrielle feared the ghosts of her own memories far more than she did the sinister aspect of the house. Besides she knew the truth behind the legends of the Maison d’Esprit far better than the superstitious Parisians who blessed themselves every time they had to pass those rusting gates.
Easing past the shattered remains of the door, she entered the house, the darkness swallowing her. The boarded-up windows blocked out what pale moonlight there was to be had. Gabrielle stripped off her mask and reached beneath her cloak for the large pouch fastened to her belt. She groped until she found the candle set in its small brass holder, along with the tinderbox she had brought. After much fumbling between flint and wick, she managed to coax the taper to light.
The tiny flame spluttered to life, casting a small circle of illumination. Gabrielle moved deeper into the room that yawned before her, the grit crunching beneath her feet. Holding up the candle, she surveyed the wreckage of the once-magnificent great hall. The bishop had done very handsomely by his mistress until the witch-hunters had come.
A beautiful high table of carved oak had been pulled from the dais and overturned, the broken remains of chairs and stools littered nearby. Tapestries had been dragged from the walls and sliced to ribbons, the musty scent of rotting wool heavy in the air. Even the iron candelabrum had been wrenched from the ceiling and left with its chain snaking around it. Everything was coated with thick cobwebs as though time had sought to weave a shroud for this house.
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Customer Reviews:
Boring.......2007-08-29
After reading the first book in the trilogy and loving it, I eagerly started this one. It was so bad I read about 1/3 and haven't picked it up again.
Complex and passionate.......2007-08-08
Three years have passed since we last met the ladies of the Faire Isle. Gabrielle Cheney's fled to Paris, at last reacting to her feelings about her horrific rape, but sadly in the worst possible way - she's become a courtesan in the court of the Dark Queen, Catherine de Medici. If she can't control men lusting after her beauty, at least she can `use' them herself. No man has her love like Captain Remy - nicknamed the Scourge - and he died in the bloody massacre on St. Bartholomew's Eve three years ago. ...Or did he? To her stunned surprise he's very much alive, and still the battered soldier of her heart. Ah, but romance isn't that easy. Remy`s incredibly torn. He loves and adores Gabrielle, but is desperate that his king - a captive in Catherine's court - escape and rule Navarre. However, the king wants Gabrielle (and his country, of course, but everything in due time), and Remy - an honourable soldier - must bow to his king's desires! The powerful, dangerous Catherine de Medici craves the fabled Book Of Shadows, a book rumoured to contain the blackest secrets of magic known to mankind. She'll do anything to get it, and to maintain her foul, evil reign, and her hold over Gabrielle and Remy. Then there's Simon, the youthful witch hunter from The Dark Queen. He's now adult, a scarred, terrifying threat to all the daughters of the earth, hunting them down for trial (and death). ...Well! It's best to just dive into this book, stunning in its romance, and enriched with the tapestry of real history woven around the incredible plot.
So disappointing........2007-04-06
This was a book club choice, and as an example of a book I would likely never have chosen myself, it was perfect. If you're looking for a historical novel, however, pass on this one. Sure, there are historical characters in it, but the book isn't about any of them. The book is a romance novel, full of angst, longing, yearning, needing, and burning, unrelenting passion. Clothes get ripped off, lips are crushed by violent, demanding (and ultimately answered, of course) kisses, and the whole thing is wrapped in a bunch of personal history and shame that just drags out the drama. Get most of these folks on a therapist's couch for some group discussion for about 45 minutes and there wouldn't be a book here.
Beyond that, the writing is just clunky. Character development and history (such as it is) comes at the reader with no subtlety at all. Taking a positive spin, this is a really quick read because you can skip big chunks of each page.
If you're looking for some light beach reading, this isn't the worst you could find. Even though this isn't set in the same period, I kept finding myself wishing I was just reading Mists of Avalon again instead of this, if I was going to read about "wise women" and witchcraft, so if that's what drew, I would suggest Mists instead.
Very good read.......2007-02-18
I thoughly enjoyed this book, as much or more than "The Dark Queen." The characters were more flawed in this one, and I liked Remy and Gabrielle the best from the beginning. I am a fan of this series; much more than the "Bridefinders."
If you like the first one. . ........2007-01-04
If you enjoyed The Dark Queen you will enjoy this piece. I always seem to think the first one is best and hence the second installment is still wonderful and exciting. It still has adventure converged with a love story and a sense of healing. I love the themes of the book.
Book Description
The Duke of Kylemore knows her as Soraya, London's most celebrated courtesan. Men fight duels to spend an hour in her company. And only he comes close to taming her. Flying in the face of society, he decides to make her his bride; then, she vanishes, seemingly into thin air.
Dire circumstances have forced Verity Ashton to barter her innocence and change her name for the sake of her family. But Kylemore destroys her plans for a respectable life when he discovers her safe haven. He kidnaps her, sweeping her away to his hunting lodge in Scotland, where he vows to bend her to his will.
There he seduces her anew. Verity spends night after night with him in his bed . . . and though she still dreams of escape and independence, she knows she can never flee the unexpected, unwelcome love for the proud, powerful lover who claims her both body and soul.
Customer Reviews:
Ripper of a Read.......2007-10-07
What a classic tale of frustrated love, murky pasts and high passion. The primitive, wild, bleak and isolated Scottish Highlands are the perfect setting for a story dealing with the primitive, wild and bleak Justin Kylemore and his attempt to tame and subdue the beautiful Soraya. But ultimately who is taming who? I had to keep reading to find out. Great stuff, och aye!
Love in a time of social inequity.......2007-10-01
Based on some of the reviews, I expected the hero to be a raving maniac. Instead, I found a somewhat realistic depiction of love across the social barriers.
When the Duke first meets the courtesan, his recognized desire for her was limited to the sexual context. I found this to be realistic since a bartered arrangement was the only apparent option available to the parties during the time period in which the book is set.
It eventually became apparent to the Duke that it was not lust at first sight, but rather the recognition of a missing part of himself, without which he could not be whole.
Yes, he did kidnap the heroine and initially force sex on her, but I think his actions were completely realistic in light of the times, their prior relationship, individual histories and their social positions.
I loved the evolution of the relationship, the unfolding of their recognition of "their other halves" and the development of trust between the hero and heroine.
I loved this book and look forward to Ms. Campbell's next one.
Stunning debut!.......2007-09-07
I have just turned the last page of this stunning debut from Anna Campbell and I'm in awe of her talent. She strips all the glitter and glamour from the regency time period and gives the reader a man and a woman with a range of emotions between them that echoes long after you've finished the story.
With a passionate pen Anna Campbell writes such vivid dialogues between Justin and Verity I actually felt the fire burning between them. Two characters, each in their own way, are bold, fierce and filled with a life-force that comes from a tough life. This and much more was translated in words that made me eager to turn the pages, more than eager to follow the verbal fights, the clash of emotions and the path of love and healing. All this poured right into my mind with reading every page and left me breathless.
There's also a physical passion and hunger for domination that is described with heartfelt words that left me with no anger towards Justin Kylemore. His haunting and dark emotions travel with him in his actions and undoubtedly served a higher purpose in this story. To conquer such a man will never be easy and with Verity the author gave a voice to a powerful yet vulnerable woman. Possession can work both ways and this novel shares its path in both the light and darkness with every shade in between. There is no sugar coating nor any real humor to find that elevates the darker side but if you want to read about an intriguing journey of love and understanding, 'Claiming the courtesan' is a story for you!
Claiming the courtesan is bold and daring, both endearing and compassionate, dark and light as well as pain and pleasure. This tale speaks of such emotion you can't close this book and not speak about it. A battle between the sexes has never been more scintillating!
courtesy of realmsonourbookshelves
Claiming the Courtesan- A Joyfully Recommended Title.......2007-07-24
The most famous courtesan in London, Soraya, belongs to Justin, Duke of Kylemore. Obsessed with having her for over five years when her affections became available, he snapped her up. Now that their year long contract is over, Justin decides to do the unthinkable. Justin, Duke of Kylemore decides to make his mistress, Soraya his duchess.
Verity Ashton may have had to barter her self to survive, but now she is financially independent. Verity has no intention of keeping the persona of the notorious courtesan, Soraya. Despite Justin's proposal, Verity vanishes from London to begin her new, respectable life in the countryside. What Verity Ashton didn't count on was the Duke of Kylemore's obsession. An obsession that will take him to her no matter where she runs.
In Claiming the Courtesan, Anna Campbell broke some of my historical romance rules. She gave me a sexually experienced heroine and a wildly forceful hero. But despite the fact that I like my historical romance heroines innocent and my heroes alpha but not too alpha, I still loved Claiming the Courtesan.
I couldn't put this book down. I was enthralled. I suffered and cheered for Verity and loved Justin with all his darkness. You can't miss this new author. Claiming the Courtesan is absolutely seductive!
Annmarie reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed
5 Klovers! Courtesy of CK2S Kwips & Kritiques.......2007-07-18
From impoverished beginnings, Verity has risen in station to become London's most sought-after courtesan, known as `Soraya.' She has everything most women wish for - money, beautiful clothes, expensive jewelry - and yet all of it is simply a means to an end as far as she is concerned. For Verity has plans to end her reign as esteemed courtesan as soon as her contract with the Duke of Kylemore expires, and retire to a much simpler, more respectable life in the country, where no one has ever heard the name Soraya.
But escaping the Duke of Kylemore is easier said than done. The Duke has been most pleased with their arrangement, and has no desire to see it end, even though the contract has expired. Furious to find Soraya has disappeared after their year has passed, he begins plotting his vengeance through total possession of his runaway mistress. He will do whatever it takes to have her, even when that means kidnapping...
For some time, many of my reading friends have raved about new author Anna Campbell's historical romance novel, Claiming the Courtesan. After the first few insisted I must read it, I agreed with them wholeheartedly, since we share very similar tastes in reading material. On my next book shopping trip, I made certain to pick up a copy of this intriguing new work of romantic fiction. I have to confess now that it was some time after that before I actually made time to read this book, as my reading pile for review books is always the first priority. Imagine my utter delight when I discovered that we had a request from the publisher to review this very book still awaiting a volunteer to review it! It was the perfect excuse to move Ms. Campbell's debut novel up to the top of my to be read stack.
I could kick myself for not reading it sooner. This book was one of the most gripping historical romances I have read in some time. Campbell has penned an unapologetic tale of two damaged souls who have resigned themselves to never enjoying love and marriage for themselves. Yet in each other, they discover the missing piece of their hearts and the path to healing and redemption.
The road there is hard for this couple, however. There are some decidedly dark aspects to this romance, and romance traditionalists may not enjoy the story as much as others. This is not the sweet little romance where the hero woos the heroine, saves the day, and they live happily ever after. These are real people, with their warts and foibles exposed for all to see. The hero most certainly shows his worst time and again - but through it all, we also see his pain, his vulnerability. We learn of the tragic background that brought him to a place where he reacts as he does to the fear of losing his Soraya.
Verity struggles to overcome her past as Soraya. She wants desperately to separate the two sides of her personality, to lock Soraya away forever. But she finally discovers she can never truly be free until she embraces both sides of herself with open arms and finds a balance between the two personas.
I loved this story. ABSOLUTELY loved it. Of course, I have absolutely no rules when it comes to my stories, not even romance. I like a happy ending, but I don't always require my stories to provide one. I most admire stories that don't cater to what the author thinks their audience wants, but instead tell the `true' story of these characters as seen in the author's imagination. That is exactly what Anna Campbell has delivered in Claiming the Courtesan.
All that said, I need to point out that this book truly does have a most satisfying happy ending. The hero does redeem himself, and the pair set off for a life together that is sure to be full of love and happiness. After the trials and tribulations this couple experienced along the way, they deserved their well-earned happy ending.
I will be anxiously awaiting Campbell's next release. Her books will be at the top of my buy list and my TBR pile now. You may count this reviewer among the fans who will be buying her December 2007 release, Untouched, on release day - unless, of course, the publisher happens to send an ARC to Ck2S Kwips & Kritiques before then, in which case I will unashamedly play leapfrog over my teammates to snatch it up! Think of bridesmaids leaping for the bouquet toss at a wedding reception - yep, that's surely what I'll look like! J
Book Description
In this captivating debut, Christi Phillips blends fact and fiction, suspense and sensuality into a vibrant, richly imagined novel in which a modern historian uncovers a courtesan's secret role in a shocking conspiracy of seventeenth-century Venice.
Claire Donovan always dreamed of visiting Venice, though not as a chaperone for a surly teenager. But she can't pass up this chance to complete her Ph.D. thesis on Alessandra Rossetti, a mysterious courtesan who wrote a secret letter to the Venetian Council warning of a Spanish plot to overthrow the Venetian Republic in 1618. Claire views Alessandra as a heroine and harbors a secret hope that her findings will elevate Alessandra to a more prominent place in history. But an arrogant Cambridge professor is set to present a paper at a prestigious Venetian university denouncing Alessandra as a co-conspirator -- a move that could destroy Claire's paper and career.
As Claire races to locate the documents that will reveal the courtesan's true motives, Alessandra's story comes to life with all the sensuality, political treachery, and violence of seventeenth-century Venice. Claire also falls under the city's spell. She is courted by a handsome Italian, matches wits with her academic adversary, bonds with her troubled young charge, and, amid the boundless beauty of Venice, recaptures the joy of living every moment....
Layering wit and warmth into her portraits of two very different yet equally dynamic heroines, Christi Phillips shifts effortlessly between past and present in a remarkable novel that is at once a love story, a mystery, and an intriguing historical drama. Filled with beautifully rendered details of one of the world's oldest and most magical cities, The Rossetti Letter marks Phillips's debut as a writer of extraordinary skill and grace.
Customer Reviews:
This one has history, romance, danger, and moves quickly.......2007-09-06
I really enjoyed this book. It wasn't a book that I 'couldn't put down' but one that was always on my mind. The characters are personable, the story line moves quickly, there are some surprises, it has great history, some romance, danger, all the makings of a good story.
I really like the way the book went between two stories without being confussiing.
Engrossing.......2007-07-19
I am an avid reader, and after starting 3 novels recently, and having been unable to get through even 50 pagesof any of them, I was hopeful that this one would capture my attention. It certainly did. I feel that Ms. Phillips' descriptions of Venice and her character development are wonderful, and the story is intriguing as well as romantic. I have been unable to put it down...
Page turner.......2007-06-24
I completely agree with all previous reviews, this was a great read. While the present day romance was enjoyable, the 17th century adventure was irrestible.
Ah Venice.......2007-06-21
I really enjoyed this novel - it had wonderful characters, action, adventure, and romance. It was a engaging and escapist and I can't wait for a sequel.
"The entire city is dedicated to Venus...".......2007-06-13
_The Rossetti Letter_ is made up of two parallel stories: one centered around Alessandra, a Venetian courtesan of the 17th century and her unwilling entanglement in a treacherous plot, and the other featuring a modern woman, Claire, who is writing her dissertation about Alessandra's role in foiling the plot.
There is a common thread between these two stories. Both deal with loss and with learning to open up to life again after a loss. I think I liked Alessandra's chapters better; Claire was prone to hare-brained schemes that left me facepalming and wondering what the bleep she was thinking! Still, I was drawn in by both storylines and thoroughly enjoyed the book. The picture of Venice that the author creates is especially vivid.
Another similarity between Alessandra's and Claire's lives exists. I'm not sure if the author did it on purpose. If she did it intentionally, it's a wry and clever commentary on how little the world has changed, as much as we'd like to think it has. If it was inadvertent, it's slightly disturbing to me. Alessandra, being a courtesan, is dependent upon men's favor for her livelihood. Claire is ostensibly a woman living in a less restrictive time, yet she gets several professional and legal breaks in the course of the story, almost all of them given to her by men. I'm not sure what I think of that.
Book Description
The Venetian courtesan has long captured the imagination as a female symbol of sexual license, elegance, beauty, and unruliness. What then to make of the cortigiana onesta—the honest courtesan who recast virtue as intellectual integrity and offered wit and refinement in return for patronage and a place in public life? Veronica Franco (1546-1591) was such a woman, a writer and citizen of Venice, whose published poems and familiar letters offer rich testimony to the complexity of the honest courtesan's position.
Margaret F. Rosenthal draws a compelling portrait of Veronica Franco in her cultural social, and economic world. Rosenthal reveals in Franco's writing a passionate support of defenseless women, strong convictions about inequality, and, in the eroticized language of her epistolary verses, the seductive political nature of all poetic contests. It is Veronica Franco's insight into the power conflicts between men and women—and her awareness of the threat she posed to her male contemporaries—that makes her literary works and her dealings with Venetian intellectuals so pertinent today.
Combining the resources of biography, history, literary theory, and cultural criticism, this sophisticated interdisciplinary work presents an eloquent and often moving account of one woman's life as an act of self-creation and as a complex response to social forces and cultural conditions.
"A book . . . pleasurably redolent of Venice in the 16th-century. Rosenthal gives a vivid sense of a world of salons and coteries, of intricate networks of family and patronage, and of literary exchanges both intellectual and erotic."—Helen Hackett, Times Higher Education Supplement
The Honest Courtesan is the basis for the film Dangerous Beauty (1998) directed by Marshall Herskovitz. (The film was re-titled The Honest Courtesan for release in the UK and Europe in 1999.)
Customer Reviews:
disappointed.......2007-05-16
I was hoping to find out about the remarkable life of Veronica Franco but instead was pummeled with quotes, references, repetition, and a string of Italian phrases. There's no doubt that this book is Rosenthal's dissertation. Hopefully one day it will be edited and condensed to 1/5 of its size.
Unequivically biased.......2005-11-27
Unfortunately I bought this book hoping that it would uncover more historical data and the actual works of Veronica Franco translated by a scholar in the field.
That was not the case.
The author used her college dissertation to make a book on a very important aspect of history when her dissertation would have been best served if it stayed at her college.
The author takes liberty to interpret Ms. Franco's works and for the reader it is a logistical nightmare. She first gives her statement as if fact at times which makes the facts (Veronica's actual works) seem secondary. Then she would have the Italian verse, followed by a translation.
Wow! do I feel very side tracked here.
I wouldn't even accept this for a dissertation!
Sorry, it doesn't work out in terms of literary flow, factual data or interesting storyline.
A difficult tome.......2005-07-11
After seeing "Dangerous Beauty" I became curious about the distinctive life style of Renaissance Venice, and hoped to learn a lot more. This book was just a bit too dry and scholarly for casual reading. A great deal of space is used for both the Italian and English translations, which must be interesting to some readers. Although Veronica comes across as intelligent, determined and brave, I would have wished to know more about her and her society in terms of food, clothing, houses, daily activities, etc. Perhaps not enough is known about Veronica herself, but I would hope that a gifted author somewhere could make her story into a novel and breathe some warmth and life into her legend.
5 star history; 2 star read.......2004-07-22
This book is a must read if you're interested in 16th century Venice, Veronica Franco, or the world of the famous Venetian courtesans. It's also an EXTREMELY dry read. The book is quite obviously a doctoral dissertation, and could have used an edit to made it more accessible (something more along the lines of Stephen Ozment's books). I'm glad I read it. I tracked it down because I wanted to see just how accurate the movie Dangerous Beauty--which is LOOSELY based on this book--was. The answer is: Not very. Oh well. For those of a scholarly bent, this is a great resource book, for those looking for a light, romantic read (a la the movie) look elsewhere.
Excellent, but a little slow.......2003-01-16
I greatly enjoyed this book, but I found that wading through 16th century Venetian dialect was difficult. If you are looking for an entertaining story biography, look elsewhere, but if you want a dissertation-style biography, you will enjoy this, as I did.
Book Description
Amid the disapproving gossip of the Court, a royal romance defies all obstacles.
The Court of François I is full of lust, intrigue, and bawdy bon temps—a different world from the quiet country life Diane de Poitiers led with her elderly husband. Now a widow, the elegant Diane is called back to Court, where the King’s obvious interest marks her as an enemy to the King’s favourite, Anne d’Heilly. The Court is soon electrified by rumors of their confrontations. As Anne calls on her most venomous tricks to drive Diane away, Diane finds an ally in the one member of Court with no allegiance to the King’s mistress: his teenage second son, Henri.
Neglected by his father and disliked by his brothers, Prince Henri expects little from his life. But as his friendship with Diane deepens into infatuation and then a romance that scandalizes the Court, the Prince begins to discover hope for a future with Diane. But fate and his father have other plans for Henri—including a political marriage with Catherine de Medici. Despite daunting obstacles, Henri’s devotion to Diane never wanes; their passion becomes one of the most legendary romances in the history of France.
Also available as an eBook
Customer Reviews:
........2007-09-21
This book was wonderful. At times I had trouble putting it down. I would get this in hard back to have to read again and again!
Beautiful Love Story.......2007-06-28
Diane Haeger brings to life the passion of a French King and his life time love, Diane de Poiters. She uses their real life love letters and french history, breathing life in to a long lost royal court. She puts a good spin on the age gap between the two lovers. She describes Catherine de'Medici and the politics surrounding that marriage perfectly. Tragic and beautiful all at once. A pleasure to read.
Well done.......2007-06-08
A new look at an old favorite (pun intended). This novel makes Henri and Diane sympathic and interesting. The passion is there but so are the interesting people
LOVED IT!.......2006-09-24
I am an avid reader of all of Haeger's historical fiction and have enjoyed all of them, this one no exception! I get so wrapped up in the characters that I'm sad when I near the end of the book. One of my favorite things about her books is that you can research the characters and see paintings of what the actual people looked like and buy more books about them.
Has some icky flaws, some romantic sap, but it still a very good book (4.5 stars).......2006-08-04
In spite of the fact that this book was the first novel of the queen of sappy historical romance novels this is a pretty good book. Historically, it's not totally accurate, but hey, it is fiction.
This is the story of a King of France, Henri, and his long time mistress, Diane. Now, when I say long time, I mean like almost 30 years long time. This kid was in love with this woman when she was governess. Did I mention the 16 year age difference? I had the misfortune to read a historical non-fiction book about their situation called "The Serpent and the Moon" which is written by a descendent of Diane, and of Henri's wife Catherine de Medici. I say misfortune because it was one boring book, but it did provide many historical facts. Such as, the relationship between Henry and Diane probably did not become sexual until he was almost twenty, not when he was 14 or 15 and she was 31 or 32, as in this book.
That's the major problem with this novel actually; it glorifies a relationship that really just reminded me of the whole Mary Kay Laterno scandal. So that part of the novel was fairly icky and a little creepy. The one thing I really dislikes about this book (aside from the sap) was that the first 100 pages are totally devoted to Diane lusting after almost pubescent boys because her marriage was loveless. I mean, get some control lady! He's your daughter's age! It makes much more sense that the sexual aspect of their relationship developed later on. If you want a good argument for that read "The Serpent and the Moon" but don't say I didn't warn you.
But other than that this is solid historical fiction that is, at times, quite mesmerizing. The relationships of those involved are often nowhere near as interesting as the politics and court life of the time, which is a welcome relief from the endless sappy speeches of Henri and Diane. Catherine is a fascinating, if always maligned character, and the backdrop of renaissance France is perfectly done. As a novel, this is definitely something I would read again. I really liked it for all its flaws, and it made me want to read more of Ms. Haeger's work, even though I didn't really like "The secret wife of King George IV" all that much. This is a far better, more developed novel with a setting and backdrop that is fascinating and puts you right in the thick of things.
If you can cut through the minimal sap and the marginal pedophilia in this book you'll probably love it. Four point five stars.
Book Description
Lady Rose Summer, the wayward Edwardian debutante who keeps getting mixed up in disreputable adventures, would swear she is not a jealous woman. After all, she knows her engagement to private detective Captain Harry Cathcart is only a ploy to keep her parents from shipping her off to India. But then Harrys latest client, Dolores Duvala vision of curves with a seductive French accentstarts appearing everywhere at his side...... In a fit of rage, Rose threatens Dolores, only to be found the very next day, standing over her dead body. The newspapers rush to convict her, but can Harry and Detective Superintendent Kerridge clear her name?
Customer Reviews:
don't start the series with this one............2007-09-23
since others have summed up the storyline so well, I only want to add a few quick notes to the other reviews. First-do not start reading this mystery series with this one as you will be totally confused as the book is entirely written in the assumption that you already have read the first three in the series.
Secondly-I have to agree with several other reviwers-calling this fourth book a mystery at all is stretching it as the vast majority of the story centers on the travails of Rose's and Daisy's love lives and their many quirky misadventures.
Finally-stalwart Chesney fan that I am, I must admit this fourth book to be disappointing. Miss Chesney has several characters behaving completely out of character, and in the case of the two female leads, their propensity to get themselves into dire situations is now turning annoying.
The author doesn't seem to want the two characters to grow or learn from previous mistakes. There was several brief moments of hilarity but moreover they were diminished by overwhelming buffoonery that made me want to throttle the both of them:)
So overall I would suggest the book of fellow die hard Chesney fans but others should probably skip it or at least hold off to see if the author can redeem herself and her Edwardian Ladies in the next installment.
3.5 stars!
Mystery and Romance.......2007-09-10
A light romantic mystery in the classic sense. The heroine is a woman of independence before this was proper. Her escapades are always interesting and the endings satisfying.
Fourth in a series of comedy romantic murder mysteries.......2007-06-13
This is the fourth in a series of murder mysteries set in Britain and France in the first decade of the 20th century featuring Captain Harry Cathcart and Lady Rose Summer.
To date there are four books in the series, which are
Snobbery with Violence
Hasty Death
Sick of Shadows
Our Lady of Pain
The author writes romantic fiction, mostly humorous regency romances plus one or two set in the Edwardian period, under the name Marion Chesney, and mystery/detective stories such as the Agatha Raisin and Hamish MacBeth series under the name M.C. Beaton.
This Edwardian series is a something of a cross-over between the two - part romance and part murder mystery - and the books often have both names on the cover (usually something like "M.C. Beaton writing as Marion Chesney.)
The main characters in the series are:
Captain Harry Cathcart, younger son of a Baron, has left the army after being injured in the Boer war. At the start of the first book in the series he carried out a service for Lady Rose's father for which he gained a reputation as a fixer, and by the time of this fourth book he is successfully running a business as the Edwardian equivalent of a Private Investigator - though this makes some members of "Society" look down on him as being "in trade."
Lady Rose Summer, Harry's fiance and the only daughter of the Earl and Countess of Hadfield. Slightly notorious as having briefly been involved with suffragettes. Chafes at the fact that society will not allow her a useful role, and constantly looking for something more challenging to do -from working as a typist or secretary to helping the police solve murders.
Beckett - Harry's "personal gentleman" - in love with Daisy.
Daisy - Lady Rose's companion. A former chorus girl, but when Captain Cathcart recruited her to play the role of a maid with a contagious disease as one of the escapades in the first book, Lady Rose recruited her to do the job for real. Later Lady Rose promoted her from Maid to Companion. In love with Becket and wants to marry him.
Detective Superintendent Kerridge - a senior policeman of humble origins and carefully supressed radical views, reinforced by the fact that whenever he has to interview an aristocrat they always threaten to report him to the Prime Minister. In the first three books, he played Inspector Slack to Lady Rose's Miss Marple. By this one his main role is releasing Harry or Lady Rose from arrest on the frequent occasions one of them is wrongly accused of murder.
At the start of this fourth book, Lady Rose Summer is engaged to Captain Harry Cathcart for the second time. They originally agreed an engagement at the end of the second book to prevent Lady Rose's parents shipping her out to India to find a husband. The engagement was broken off and then re-established in the third book.
Although you would think that their propensity for breaking up and re-establishing engagements was a dead give-away, neither has ever admitted that they actually have feelings for each other. Lady Rose "would have sworn on a stack of bibles that she was not a jealous woman." Then a gorgeous courtesan from Paris, Mademoiselle Dolores Duval, hires Harry in his capacity as an investigator. When Harry accompanies Dolores to the theatre, Lady Rose completely loses her temper, and the book loses any claim to authenticity as a picture of Edwardian Society. She snaps at Mademoiselle Duval an insult which a titled lady of that time would never have heard of and the threat to "leave my fiance alone ... or I'll kill you."
Unfortunately the following morning Lady Rose discovers Dolores Duval's murdered body - and is then arrested for the murder when the cleaning lady finds Rose standing over the body with a gun in her hand.
This starts a madcap series of scrapes which range from London to Oxford Paris to Scotland, and include several more murders, Lady Rose and Daisy spending some time under the supervision of a group of Anglican Benedictine nuns who are as ascetic and severe as the strictest Catholic ones, and with romances, engagements and marriages made, sundered, and on again.
Despite my previous comparison with Miss Marple, this is not in the same league as Agatha Christie as a detective story, and neither is it in the same league as Jane Austen as a romance. Nor, indeed, is it one of the author's best books. When she is really on form, M.C. Beaton/Marion Chesney is capable of good characterisation and flashes of delightful humour. However apart from the absurd parody of convent life, and the ironic trick by which Lady Rose's parents are persuaded to allow her to leave the convent, there isn't much good humour in this book, and non-stop action becomes a substitute for character development.
Worth reading if you enjoyed the other books in the series and want to know what happens next, or if you are looking for a mildly entertaining light read. Otherwise, give it a miss.
happy reader.......2007-03-09
A fun, quick read. I couldn't wait to see what happened with Harry and Lady Rose.
Fluffy, Fun, and Fascinating.......2006-06-03
Marion Chesney (terrific cozy author M.C. Beaton) knows how to write one heck of an enjoyable read - IF you like historical cozies where the author has actually done solid, serious research about the era.
Edwardian debutante Lady Rose Summer and her wise-cracking sidekick Daisy don't mean to keep stumbling into disreputable adventures, but they certainly add a zip to life; and after all, why should private detective Captain Harry Cathcart be the only one to have adventures?!?! Then calamity strikes! When Harry's newest client, Dolores Duval, a gorgeous French lady "of reputation" causes Rose to feel tremors of jealousy our heroine ultimately loses her head and actually threatens to kill Dolores only to be discovered standing next to Dolores' dead body the very next day! Her strait-laced parents are horrified and determinedly pack Rose and Daisy off to a strict convent for a year to learn how to behave.
But then another murder occurs and fingers again point to Rose . . .
Amazon.com
Desire is a dangerous thing, and the relationship between the citizens of ancient Athens and their desires was a complex and troubled one. James Davidson's Courtesans and Fishcakes is a brilliant and kaleidoscopic examination of daily life in classical Athens, and the life he reveals is simultaneously more alien and more familiar than we might have imagined. From fish-guzzling gourmands to the ambiguous eroticism of vase paintings, the cradle of Western culture is artfully, and frequently amusingly, anatomized. Davidson believes that many historians, under the influence of Foucault, are guilty of imposing modern views of desire, and particularly sexuality, on Greek culture, resulting in a simplistic interpretation of what was an extremely complicated issue. He refutes the prevailing opinion that sex in Athens was a simple binary opposition of penetrator and penetrated, drawing on a remarkable number of sources to show how sexuality was a slippery commodity rooted in intricate social negotiations, a characteristic shared with many other objects of desire, from eels to undiluted wine. Davidson sometimes assumes a little too much knowledge on the part of his audience--some basic information about the size of the Athenian population would have been helpful--but in spite of this Courtesans and Fishcakes is both accessible and provocative, offering a fascinating portrait of the private and public lives of ancient Athenians. --Simon Leake
Customer Reviews:
Scholarly book for educated readers.......2007-03-12
Be advised: this book is slow reading. Unlike Athenians at fish fests you will not gorge on the paragraphs as they come hot off the pages. I am a book a day man but this fellow took me more than two weeks. I will admit to other reading during that time , but this book was not for work, which is often the case with chapter a day reads. I know my Lit Crit theory. I have a little Latin and less Greek, and I needed them for this book, and yet every so often a wonderful prospect of words and word connectedness blossomed from this suggestive title, sort of like those rather suggestive amarillis stems and blossoms. I would add, that familiarity with contemporary literary critical theory would also help in appreciating what Davidson has achieved which is a learned and creative picture of that shaping and yet alien culture which was Athens.
Any teacher who has had to explain how tragedy fits into the Athenian vision with its strict moral code but lacking the ideas of sinful guilt will appreciate the careful path the author treads as he looks at a very different vision of addiction and desire from that we find in modern culture. Keep a good dictionary nearby while reading. Keep a bookmark too. You will want to, pause, set this side frome time to time, and think
Extraordinary!.......2005-04-11
A marvelously written, intricate weave from an incredible array of sources that illuminates the significance of Greek appetites (especially for fish -- yes, fish -- and for sex, in multiple forms and layers) and attitudes toward them, and thus, on the way, as it were, what was regarded as virtuous, that the author convincingly shows were central to social, philosophical and poltical life in classical Athens. An extraordinary book offering amazing insights. One awaits the next set of revelations, if there are more to be delivered to us, by Mr. Davidson, with something resembling opsophagia. A tour de force!
brings the ancient world to life but tough to finish.......2004-03-12
The best part of the book is how it brings the ancient world to life. What did these folks do day-to-day? That said unless you're doing an academic thesis on this topic you might lose interest halfway through.
Not just for classicists.......2003-04-17
While I would grant that this is a scholarly work by a serious historian I found it an engaging read and quite fascinating. It is one of the few books I have read that really helps one get into the mindset (mentalite) of another civilization, far distant in time and space. I don't think one needs an encyclopaedic knowledge of ancient Greece to appreciate this book but some exposure to other studies of mentalites might be helpful.
Fishy stuff.......2001-10-23
This isn't a bad book. The writing is pretty good and it is loaded with trivial facts about Athenians. It is interesting in that one gets to flirt with entering quite an alien culture and gets to try and equate it with how we live today.
The author never really brought this alive for me but it was good enough that I finished it.
Average customer rating:
- Historical and exotic but confusing
- A historical fiction novel focusing on the theme of professional seduction and sex
- Mossanen's second novel
- A sense-fulfilling novel
- COURTESAN WITH THE HEART OF A FEMINIST
|
Courtesan: A Novel
Dora Levy Mossanen
Manufacturer: Touchstone
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Literary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Historical | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Jewish American | United States | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0743246780 |
Book Description
Set amid the elegant châteaux of Belle époque France and the closely guarded world of nineteenth-century Persian women, Courtesan unfolds with the breathtaking cinematic sweep and stunning visual grandeur of an epic film. At its heart are three unforgettable women: Madame Gabrielle, the courtesan whose fateful liaison with the shah of Persia reverberates in the lives of her daughter, Françoise, and her rebellious and brave granddaughter, Simone, whose journey plunges her into the cutthroat diamond trade, where the secrets of an ancient culture may hold the truth she desperately seeks.
Customer Reviews:
Historical and exotic but confusing.......2006-04-14
I just finished this book and was glad to be done with it. While the locales were exotic and intriguing enough to keep me reading, the writing was uneven at best, almost as thought it was a bad translation or something. Im not sure a better editor could have helped it. The author jumped from locale to locale in a jilting way and most of the relationships were never believable. It is my understanding that her first novel 'Harem' was critically acclaimed but having read this one first I won't bother with Harem.
A historical fiction novel focusing on the theme of professional seduction and sex.......2005-09-23
The author of HAREM, Dora Levy Mossanen's latest work is COURTESAN, which, like her previous novel, focuses on the theme of professional seduction and sex. COURTESAN's protagonists are three women from three different generations: Madame Gabrielle, the matriarch and grandmother of the d'Honore family; Gabrielle's daughter, Francoise; and Simone, Francoise's daughter. Both Gabrielle and Francoise are courtesans --- high-priced French prostitutes. They're wealthy and powerful and have been in bed with many wealthy and powerful men. Simone, however, is repulsed by this life and believes in true love. Gabrielle tries her best to convince Simone otherwise, introducing Simone to her world by persuading a Persian jeweler to be Simone's first experience. Unfortunately for Gabrielle, Simone and Cyrus fall in love, marry, and move away to Tehran against Gabrielle's wishes.
The first half of the novel reads like a romance. The focus then shifts to Cyrus and his work with red diamonds. There is a mystery associated with these diamonds, as Cyrus thinks he's discovered something that is illegal and tries to determine what it is. When he disappears and is thought to be dead, Simone goes into mourning but is then determined to find out what happened to Cyrus --- and eventually finds herself in the middle of this mystery.
Cyrus courted Simone with red diamonds when he first met her, and he also wore a red diamond in his ear. The diamonds are central to their story, but at the same time Simone's need to be her own person and not the courtesan her mother and grandmother want her to be drives the story.
The shifts in time Mossanen employed throughout the book were not to my liking as they were choppy and without rhythm, but this did not detract from my enjoyment of the book. What I found most pleasurable were the characters and backdrop of the story. 1900s Persia and Paris offer a romantic setting amid the world of the wealthy courtesans. Madame Gabrielle, with her ability to speak to spirits, was especially fun to read about. She has all sorts of wonderfully interesting dead spirits hanging around her, including Franz Liszt and Oscar Wilde, and they can be found floating under her armpits and sitting on her breasts, giving advice or commentary. Very lighthearted bantering goes back and forth between Gabrielle and her many old lovers --- some long gone, others only recently deceased.
The character of Simone stood out because she's strong and not afraid to defy her family's "heritage." The most riveting part for me was learning about the true history of Simone's family and the fact that Gabrielle had hidden from her daughter and granddaughter their real identity and where they came from.
What Mossanen does best in her books is detail beautiful historically romantic settings and describe characters in such a way that they all come to life as on the big screen. Her stories span long periods and her characters' lives are based on history, but there is always that touch of the spirit world that sneaks into her stories. While COURTESAN could have used more structure, it was enjoyable and I'm looking forward to more of Mossanen's work.
--- Reviewed by Marie Hashima Lofton [...]
Mossanen's second novel.......2005-09-18
COURTESAN by Dora Levy Mossanen
September 17, 2005
Amazon Rating: 4/5 stars
The story of three generations of French prostitutes, COURTESAN is the love story between a Persian jeweler and the daughter and granddaughter of French courtesans, who only wants to find love.
Simone is part of a legacy spanning three generations of expensive courtesans living in Paris. Simone, however, does not have plans to follow in her mother and grandmother's footsteps. Madame Gabrielle, the matriarch of the family, is very disappointed but tries to convince Simone to follow in the family trade by introducing Simone to a Persian jeweler, whose expertise is in red diamonds. Unfortunately for Gabrielle, Simone and Cyrus fall in love and marry. To escape her family's disappointment in her, they move to the mountains of Tehran where they live in peace and happiness.
While the book starts out as a romance, it soon takes on the feel of a mystery, when Cyrus disappears and is presumed dead, and Simone tries to put the pieces together and find her husband's murderers. The center of the mystery is the red diamonds, and Simone believes that he knew something about these diamonds that endangered his life.
While part of COURTESAN focuses on the mystery of the red diamonds and Cyrus's disappearance and probable murder, the other important theme is the family origins of the Honore' family. The reader will learn, through Gabrielle's letters to Simone, the truth about their family, and what Gabrielle tried to hide from her daughter and granddaughter for all those years. In turn, a few of the characters in the book are not who they claim to be, and by the end of the story, the reader will fully understand Gabrielle's epic-like story and how her life as a courtesan came to be.
I enjoyed COURTESAN, but not as much as I loved her debut, HAREM, which I felt, was better written. Despite having said that, I do recommend COURTESAN for lovers of historical fiction. I will definitely read her next novel, whatever it may be.
A sense-fulfilling novel.......2005-08-21
This marvellous novel is a lush, romantic symphony in which "the clatter of faraway hooves," and "the rumble of carriage wheels," provide the percussive background for period settings, intriguing characters, and the pursuit of red diamonds. A "lust-tinged air" is present throughout an abundance of such rare, magical scenes, as when stallions are attacked by fireflies, and a lemon drink "laced with darkling beetles" is prescribed to enhance memory. Levy-Mossanen's breathtaking descriptions fulfill all the senses and leave nothing to be desired. COURTESAN is fiction at its most artistically satisfying and intellectually transporting.
COURTESAN WITH THE HEART OF A FEMINIST .......2005-07-23
IN "COURTESAN," DORA MOSSANEN DELIVERS A WONDERFUL TWIST. IN THE STORY, THROUGH THE TALENT AND DARING OF A FRENCH-JEWISH WOMAN, NOW A GRANDMOTHER, CATERING TO MEN IN EXCHANGE FOR MONEY, STYLE, AND STATUS OF A CERTAIN SORT HAS BECOME THE FAMILY BUSINESS. WE, THE READER, HAVE THE GOOD LUCK TO BE ALONG FOR THE RIDE IN THE PLAYING-OUT OF THE PROBLEM THAT ARISES WHEN THE GRAND-DAUGHTER IN THIS DYNASTY MANIFESTS RANK DISLOYALTY AND UTTER BAD TASTE BY ACTUALLY FALLING-IN-LOVE. THIS IS A WONDERFUL, EXOTIC AND STYLISH READ. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT.
Book Description
New York 1883 With her deceased father's creditors pounding at the door, starvation imminent, and nothing left to lose, eighteen-year old Sarah Winslow signs a note to excuse her indebtedness. Little does she suspect that she's just sold herself into an exclusive brothel, her ruination orchestrated by Sebastian Turner, a wealthy gentleman who has bought and paid for her virginal innocence for reasons all his own. For eighteen long years, Seb has methodically plotted to destroy the Winslow name. And he succeeds. He now owns all of Michael Winslow's possessions, including his lovely daughter, Sarah. Seb has everything he ever wanted. Only now that he does, it's not enough. He wants more...from Sarah. His needs know no bounds but those of pleasure--a rawhide lasso and gold bondage bracelets--when it comes to the prim and proper lady he has made his Courtesan.
Customer Reviews:
COURTESAN contains the perfect blend of innocence and sensuality........2007-06-24
Sarah Winslow was forced to sell everything in an attempt to pay the creditors and still couldn't cover them all. Left with no choice, Sarah signed a note for a loan naively selling herself into the hands of an exclusive brothel. With her love of botany, Sarah had hoped to earn a living and pay past debts by gardening, the patrons of the gaming establishment had offered garden designing commissions, but each of the offers fell through.
Sebastian Turner had sworn vengeance on Sarah's father after he wronged his mother and himself. Slowly he's obtained his goal and everything that was once Michael Winslow's now belongs to Seb, including his daughter, Sara. Savoring his victory should have left him euphoric, instead he feels sorry for Sara and can't abide the thought of another man touching her.
Eighteen years ago, Sebastian had swallowed his pride and returned for help, to the man that had wrongly used and then discarded his mother. His mother had consumption and Sebastian believed that seeing Michael Winslow would give her the will to beat the disease. Instead, Mr. Winslow refused, and Seb's mother died a week later. Seb slowly improved his position in life but never got over the feelings left from his childhood or his sorry beginnings. Having finally obtained everything that once belonged to Michael Winslow has given him a sense of satisfaction. Tonight, his plot will be complete when he's the one to deflower the virginal daughter of his dead opponent. After rescuing Sarah from the man she refers to as the "eel," Seb realizes that she'd be able to see right through him and know he's not whom he's pretending to be. Following her out into the gardens, Seb finds Sarah highly agitated and not at all receptive to his overtures of friendship. She's perfectly aware that it's all a ploy. It's to be her first night as a whore and having already been groped by the "eel" Sarah wants to sink into her precious gardens and for the rest of the world to go away. Sarah uses her uppity, snotty attitude as protection. Pride is all she has left now and she wraps it around herself like a cloak. Seb suddenly taking an interest in her garden however puts them in her comfort zone and she animatedly enjoys sharing her knowledge of gardening with him, while dejectedly wondering why all the commission offers fell through. As a con man, Seb knows exactly how to put Sarah at ease, and soon finds himself enjoying her company while anticipating the activities still to come that night. Will Seb be able to follow through with his plans for Sarah? Or will they each find the love and acceptance they both need?
COURTESAN contains the perfect blend of innocence and sensuality. Sarah's practical nature leads her to read about the various forms of sex in order to perform her job, but nothing prepares her for the overwhelming need for Seb's brand of dominance. Seb and Sarah are both hurt and lonely, both at the hands of the same man. Sarah simply wants a man to love her for whom she is. Seb believes he wants to get back at Sarah's father but really he's a man still hurting from the injustice to his mother. In each other's arms they may be able to fulfill both of their needs. Louisa Trent's COURTESAN is an unexpectedly touching story, not to mention a wild romp through the various aspects of being a COURTESAN. Strap on a chastity belt ladies. This story is sure to leave you with lots of yummy ideas.
Chrissy Dionne (courtesy of Romance Junkies)
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