"A novel set in Renaissance Italy, and centering on the captivating young duchess Lucrezia de' Medici"-- "Florence, the 1550s. 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 to devote herself to her own artistic pursuits. But when her older sister dies on the eve of her wedding to the ruler of Ferrara, Modena and Reggio, Lucrezia is thrust unwittingly into the limelight: the duke is quick to request her hand in marriage, and her father just as quick to accept on her behalf. Having barely left girlhood behind, Lucrezia must now make her way in a troubled court whose customs are opaque and where her arrival is not universally welcomed. Perhaps most mystifying of all is her new husband himself, Alfonso. 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? As Lucrezia sits in constricting finery for a painting intended to preserve her image for centuries to come, one thing becomes worryingly clear. In the court's eyes, she has one duty: to provide the heir who will shore up the future of the Ferrarese dynasty. Until then, for all of her rank and nobility, the new duchess's future hangs entirely in the balance."--

"A novel set in Renaissance Italy, and centering on the captivating young duchess Lucrezia de' Medici"--

Fiction. Literature. Historical Fiction. HTML:The author of Hamnetâ??New York Times best seller and National Book Critics Circle Award winnerâ??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.
"Oâ??Farrell pulls out little threads of historical detail to weave this story of a precocious girl sensitive to the contradictions of her station ... You may know the history, and you may think you know whatâ??s coming, but donâ??t be so sure." â??The Washington Post
Florence, the 1550s. 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. But when her older sister dies on the eve of her wedding to the ruler of Ferrara, Modena and Reggio, Lucrezia is thrust unwittingly into the limelight: the duke is quick to request her hand in marriage, and her father just as quick to accept on her behalf.
 
Having barely left girlhood behind, Lucrezia must now enter an unfamiliar court whose customs are opaque and where her arrival is not universally welcomed. Perhaps most mystifying of all is her new husband himself, Alfonso. 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?
 
As Lucrezia sits in constricting finery for a painting intended to preserve her image for centuries to come, one thing becomes worryingly clear. In the courtâ??s eyes, she has one duty: to provide the heir who will shore up the future of the Ferranese dynasty. Until then, for all of her rank and nobility, the new duchessâ??s future hangs entirely in the balance.
 
Full of the beauty and emotion with which she illuminated the Shakespearean canvas of Hamnet, Maggie Oâ??Farrell turns her talents to Renaissance Italy in an extraordinary portrait of a resilient young womanâ??s

"A novel set in Renaissance Italy, and centering on the captivating young duchess Lucrezia de' Medici"--. Florence, the 1550s. Lucrezia, third daughter of the grand duke, is obscure in the palazzo's clandestine workings. Then her older sister dies on the eve of her wedding to the Alfonso, ruler of Ferrara, Modena and Reggio. Now Lucrezia is to take her sister's place in a troubled court where her arrival is not universally welcomed. Sitting for her wedding portrait, one thing becomes clear to Lucrezia: her only duty is to provide an heir to shore up the future of the Ferrarese dynasty. -- adapted from back cover

Florence, the 1560s. Lucrezia, third daughter of Cosimo de' Medici, is free to wander the palazzo at will. But when her older sister dies on the eve of marriage to Alfonso d'Este, ruler of Ferrara, Modena and Reggio, Lucrezia is thrust unwittingly into the limelight when the duke requests her hand in marriage. Having barely left girlhood, Lucrezia must now make her way in a troubled court. Perhaps most mystifying of all is her husband himself, Alfonso. Is he the playful sophisticate he appears to be before their wedding, or the ruthless politician before whom even his formidable sisters seem to tremble? As Lucrezia sits in uncomfortable finery for the painting that is to preserve her image for centuries to come, one thing becomes worryingly clear. In the court's eyes, she has one duty: to provide the heir who will shore up the future of the Ferrarese dynasty. Until then, her future hangs entirely in the balance.

"A novel set in Renaissance Italy, and centering on the captivating young duchess Lucrezia de' Medici. When her older sister dies on the eve of her wedding to the duke, Lucrezia is is thrust unwittingly into the limelight: the duke is quick to request her hand in marriage and her father just as quick to accept on her behalf. Having barely left girlhood behind, Lucrezia must now make her way in a troubled court whose customs are opaque and where her arrival is not universally welcomed."--

"Florencia, mediados del siglo XVI. Lucrezia, tercera hija del gran duque Cosimo de' Medici, es una niña callada y perspicaz, con un singular talento para el dibujo, que disfruta de su discreto y tranquilo lugar en el palazzo. Pero cuando muere su hermana Maria, justo antes de casarse con Alfonso d'Este, primogénito del duque de Ferrara, Lucrezia se convierte inesperadamente en el centro de atención: el duque se apresura a pedir su mano, y su padre a aceptarla. Poco después, con solo quince años, se traslada a la corte de Ferrara, donde es recibida con recelo. Su marido, doce años mayor, es un enigma: ¿es en realidad el hombre sensible y comprensivo que le pareció al principio o un déspota implacable al que todos temen? Lo único que está claro es lo que se espera de ella: que proporcione cuanto antes un heredero que asegure la continuidad del título. Con la misma belleza y emoción con las que nos cautivó en Hamnet, Maggie O'Farrell vuelve a demostrar su inigualable talento para adentrarse en los recovecos del pasado en El retrato de casada, una novela que reinterpreta desde la ficción un capítulo de la Italia renacentista y narra la lucha contra el destino de una joven asombrosa."--Back cover. Florence, mid-16th century. Lucrezia, third daughter of the Grand Duke Cosimo de' Medici, is a quiet and perceptive girl, with a singular talent for drawing, which she enjoys in her discreet and quiet place in the palazzo. But when her sister Maria dies, just before marrying Alfonso d'Este, eldest son of the Duke of Ferrara, Lucrezia unexpectedly becomes the center of attention: the duke rushes to ask for her hand, and her father to accept. Shortly after, at only fifteen years old, she moves to the court of Ferrara, where she is received with suspicion. Her husband, twelve years her senior, is an enigma: is he really the sensitive and understanding man he first seemed to her, or a ruthless despot everyone fears? The only thing that is clear is what is expected of her: that she provide an heir as soon as possible to ensure the continuity of his title.

In Florence during the 1550s, captivating young duchess Lucrezia de’ Medici, having barely left girlhood behind, marries the ruler of Ferrara, Modena and Reggio, and now, in an unfamiliar court where she has one duty—to provide an heir—fights for her very survival.

Winter, 1561. Lucrezia, Duchess of Ferrara, is taken on an unexpected visit to a country villa by her husband, Alfonso. As they sit down to dinner it occurs to Lucrezia that Alfonso has a sinister purpose in bringing her here. He intends to kill her. Lucrezia is sixteen years old, and has led a sheltered life locked away inside Florence's grandest palazzo. Here, in this remote villa, she is entirely at the mercy of her increasingly erratic husband. What is Lucrezia to do with this sudden knowledge? What chance does she have against Alfonso, ruler of a province, and a trained soldier? How can she ensure her survival. 'The Marriage Portrait' is an unforgettable reimagining of the life of a young woman whose proximity to power places her in mortal danger.

Florence, the 1550s. 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. But when her older sister dies on the eve of her wedding to the ruler of Ferrara, Modena and Reggio, Lucrezia is thrust unwittingly into the limelight: the duke is quick to request her hand in marriage, and her father just as quick to accept on her behalf.

Shortlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction 2023 A Reese's Bookclub December Pick (2022) An Instant Sunday Times, New York Times and Irish Times Bestseller (August 2022) A Guardian and LitHub Book of the Year (December 2022) 'Every bit as evocative and spellbinding as Hamnet. O'Farrell, thank God, just seems to be getting better and better' i newspaper 'Her narrative enchantment will wrest suspense and surprise out of a death foretold' Financial Times 'Ingenious, inventive, humane, wry, truthful . . . better than her last novel' Scotsman 'Finely written and vividly imagined' Guardian 'In O'Farrell's hands, historical detail comes alive' Spectator Winter, 1561. Lucrezia, Duchess of Ferrara, is taken on an unexpected visit to a country villa by her husband, Alfonso. As they sit down to dinner it occurs to Lucrezia that Alfonso has a sinister purpose in bringing her here. He intends to kill her. Lucrezia is sixteen years old, and has led a sheltered life locked away inside Florence's grandest palazzo. Here, in this remote villa, she is entirely at the mercy of her increasingly erratic husband. What is Lucrezia to do with this sudden knowledge? What chance does she have against Alfonso, ruler of a province, and a trained soldier? How can she ensure her survival. The Marriage Portrait is an unforgettable reimagining of the life of a young woman whose proximity to power places her in mortal danger.

'I thought I had made myself clear. I want something that conveys her majesty, her bloodline. Do you understand? She is no ordinary mortal. Treat her thus.'Florence, the 1560s. Lucrezia, third daughter of Cosimo de' Medici, is free to wander the palazzo at will, wondering at its treasures and observing its clandestine workings.

Florence, the 1550s. Lucrezia, third daughter of the grand duke, is comfortable with her obscure place in the palazzo. But when her older sister dies on the eve of her wedding, Lucrezia is thrust unwittingly into the limelight: a duke is quick to request her hand in marriage. Having barely left girlhood behind, Lucrezia must now make her way in a troubled court whose customs are opaque and where her arrival is not universally welcomed. In the court's eyes, she has one duty: to provide the heir. Until then, for all of her rank and nobility, the new duchess' future hangs entirely in the balance.

Florence, the 1560s. Lucrezia, third daughter of Cosimo de' Medici, is free to wander the palazzo at will, wondering at its treasures and observing its clandestine workings. But when her older sister dies on the eve of marriage to Alfonso d'Este, heir to the Duke of Ferrara, Modena and Reggio, Lucrezia is thrust unwittingly into the limelight: Alfonso is quick to request her hand in marriage, and her father to accept on her behalf. Having barely left girlhood, Lucrezia must now make her way in a troubled court whose customs are opaque and where her arrival is not universally welcomed. Perhaps most mystifying of all is her husband himself, Alfonso. Is he the playful sophisticate he appears 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?

Florence, mid-16th century. Lucrezia, third daughter of the Grand Duke Cosimo de' Medici, is a quiet and perceptive girl, with a singular talent for drawing, who she enjoys in her discreet and quiet place in the palazzo. But when her sister Maria dies, just before marrying Alfonso d'Este, eldest son of the Duke of Ferrara, Lucrezia unexpectedly becomes the center of attention: the duke rushes to ask for her hand, and she her father to accept her. Shortly after, at only fifteen years old, she moves to the court of Ferrara, where she is received with suspicion. Her husband, twelve years her senior, is an enigma: is he really the sensitive and understanding man he first seemed to her, or a ruthless despot everyone fears? The only thing that is clear is what is expected of her: that she provide an heir as soon as possible to ensure the continuity of his title.

Marriage was her destiny. Now she must survive it. The breathtaking new novel from the No. 1 bestselling author of Hamnet, winner of the Women's Prize for Fiction 2020. **AS SELECTED FOR BBC RADIO 2 BOOKCLUB** 'O'Farrell is simply outstanding' Guardian 'Her writing is exquisite. Immersive and compelling' Marian Keyes The Marriage Portrait is a dazzling evocation of the Italian Renaissance in all its beauty and brutality. Winter, 1561. Lucrezia, Duchess of Ferrara, is taken on an unexpected visit to a country villa by her husband, Alfonso. As they sit down to dinner it occurs to Lucrezia that Alfonso has a sinister purpose in bringing her here. He intends to kill her. Lucrezia is sixteen years old, and has led a sheltered life locked away inside Florence's grandest palazzo. Here, in this remote villa, she is entirely at the mercy of her increasingly erratic husband. What is Lucrezia to do with this sudden knowledge? What chance does she have against Alfonso, ruler of a province, and a trained soldier? How can she ensure her survival. The Marriage Portrait is an unforgettable reimagining of the life of a young woman whose proximity to power places her in mortal danger.

From the author of the breakout New York Times best seller Hamnet—winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award—an electrifying new novel set in Renaissance Italy, and centering on the captivating young duchess Lucrezia de Medici. Florence, the 1550s. 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 to devote herself to her own artistic pursuits. But when her older sister dies on the eve of her wedding to the ruler of Ferrara, Moderna and Regio, Lucrezia is thrust unwittingly into the limelight: the duke is quick to request her hand in marriage, and her father just as quick to accept on her behalf. Having barely left girlhood behind, Lucrezia must now make her way in a troubled court whose customs are opaque and where her arrival is not universally welcomed. Perhaps most mystifying of all is her new husband himself, Alfonso. 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? As Lucrezia sits in constricting finery for a painting intended to preserve her image for centuries to come, one thing becomes worryingly clear. In the court’s eyes, she has one duty: to provide the heir who will shore up the future of the Ferranese dynasty. Until then, for all of her rank and nobility, the new duchess’s future hangs entirely in the balance. Full of the drama and verve with which she illuminated the Shakespearean canvas of Hamnet, Maggie O’Farrell brings the world of Renaissance Italy to jewel-bright life, and offers an unforgettable portrait of a resilient young woman’s battle for her very survival. Florence, the 1550s. 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 to devote herself to her own artistic pursuits. But when her older sister dies on the eve of her wedding to the ruler of Ferrara, Moderna and Regio, Lucrezia is thrust unwittingly into the limelight: the duke is quick to request her hand in marriage, and her father just as quick to accept on her behalf. Having barely left girlhood behind, Lucrezia must now make her way in a troubled court whose customs are opaque and where her arrival is not universally welcomed. Perhaps most mystifying of all is her new husband himself, Alfonso. 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? As Lucrezia sits in constricting finery for a painting intended to preserve her image for centuries to come, one thing becomes worryingly clear. In the court's eyes, she has one duty: to provide the heir who will shore up the future of the Ferranese dynasty. Until then, for all of her rank and nobility, the new duchess's future hangs entirely in the balance.

Florence, 1561. Lucrezia, third daughter of Cosimo de' Medici, is free to wander the palazzo at will, wondering at its treasures and observing its clandestine workings. But when her older sister dies on the eve of marriage to Alfonso d'Este, ruler of Ferrara, Modena and Reggio, Lucrezia is thrust unwittingly into the limelight: the duke is quick to request her hand in marriage and her father to accept on her behalf. Having barely left girlhood, Lucrezia must now make her way in a troubled court whose customs are opaque and where her arrival is not universally welcomed. Perhaps most mystifying of all is her husband himself, Alfonso. Is he the playful sophisticate her appears 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? As Lucrezia sits in uncomfortable finery for the painting which is to preserve her image for centuries to come, one thing becomes worryingly clear. In the court's eyes, she has one duty: to provide the heir who will shore up the future of the Ferrarese dynasty. Until then, for all of her rank and nobility, her future hangs entirely in the balance.'I thought I had made myself clear. I want something that conveys her majesty, her bloodline. Do you understand? She is no ordinary mortal. Treat her thus.'Florence, the 1560s. Lucrezia, third daughter of Cosimo de' Medici, is free to wander the palazzo at will, wondering at its treasures and observing its clandestine workings.

Three talented women—narrator, author, and protagonist—combine forces for this gripping historical novel set in Renaissance Italy. Maggie O’Farrell, author of the award-winning novel HAMNET, here introduces us to Lucrezia de’ Medici of Florence, who married Duke Alfonso d’Este of Ferrara in 1559. Genevieve Gaunt’s captivating performance illuminates the suspenseful tale like gold leaf on a beautiful manuscript. She reads O’Farrell’s world-building descriptions of court and countryside with seductive enunciation and pacing. Her 15-year-old Lucrezia is a tender pawn with brains and spirit. Her baritoned Alfonso is charismatic and chilling. Other characters ranging from servants to nobles are given equally enlightening accents and speech patterns. A thoughtful afterword delivered by the Irish-born O’Farrell explains her novelistic modifications to the few available historical facts. A.C.S. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award, 2022 Best Audiobook © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine [Published: SEPTEMBER 2022]

En uppslukande historisk roman om en ung kvinnas kamp f©œr ©œverlevnad[Bokinfo]

" El retrat de matrimoni ens transporta a la Itàlia del segle XVI. La Lucrezia, tercera filla del poderós duc de Mèdici, és una noia discreta i independent que creix feliç a l'ombra dels seus germans, lliure per observar els tresors de palau, explorar els passadissos secrets i espiar feines i converses clandestines. Li agrada aprendre coses, pintar i mirar les musaranyes, i no acaba d'encaixar gaire en el paper de duquessa.."-- Informació proporcionada per l'editor

"Florencia, mediados del siglo XVI. Lucrezia, tercera hija del gran duque Cosimo de' Medici, es una niña callada y perspicaz, con un singular talento para el dibujo, que disfruta de su discreto y tranquilo lugar en el palazzo. Pero cuando muere su hermana Maria, justo antes de casarse con Alfonso d'Este, primogénito del duque de Ferrara, Lucrezia se convierte inesperadamente en el centro de atención: el duque se apresura a pedir su mano, y su padre a aceptarla. Poco después, con solo quince años, se traslada a la corte de Ferrara, donde es recibida con recelo. Su marido, doce años mayor, es un enigma: ¿es en realidad el hombre sensible y comprensivo que le pareció al principio o un déspota implacable al que todos temen? Lo único que está claro es lo que se espera de ella: que proporcione cuanto antes un heredero que asegure la continuidad del título. Con la misma belleza y emoción con las que nos cautivó en Hamnet, Maggie O'Farrell vuelve a demostrar su inigualable talento para adentrarse en los recovecos del pasado en El retrato de casada, una novela que reinterpreta desde la ficción un capítulo de la Italia renacentista y narra la lucha contra el destino de una joven asombrosa."--Back cover.

Fiction. Literature. HTML:

El matrimonio era su destino. Ahora tendrá que sobrevivir a él. La esperadísima nueva novela de Maggie O'Farrell tras el gran éxito internacional de Hamnet.

Florencia, mediados del siglo XVI. Lucrezia, tercera hija del gran duque Cosimo de' Medici, es una niña callada y perspicaz, con un singular talento para el dibujo, que disfruta de su discreto y tranquilo lugar en el palazzo. Pero cuando muere su hermana Maria, justo antes de casarse con Alfonso d'Este, primogénito del duque de Ferrara, Lucrezia se convierte inesperadamente en el centro de atención: el duque se apresura a pedir su mano, y su padre a aceptarla. Poco después, con solo quince años, se traslada a la corte de Ferrara, donde es recibida con recelo. Su marido, doce años mayor, es un enigma: ¿es en realidad el hombre sensible y comprensivo que le pareció al principio o un déspota implacable al que todos temen? Lo único que está claro es lo que se espera de ella: que proporcione cuanto antes un heredero que asegure la continuidad del título.

Con la misma belleza y emoción con las que nos cautivó en Hamnet, Maggie O'Farrell vuelve a demostrar su inigualable talento para adentrarse en los recovecos del pasado en El retrato de casada, una novela que reinterpreta desde la ficción un capítulo de la Italia renacentista y narra la lucha contra el destino de una joven asombrosa.

«O'Farrell es simplemente excepcional (...) Delicadamente escrita y llena de imágenes vívidas.» The Guardian

«Ingeniosa, imaginativa, humana, irónica, verdadera... todavía mejor que su última novela.» Scotsman

«Esta cautivadora historia sobre el poder, la política y la lucha de una mujer por su supervivencia es otra obra maestra de la autora.» The Globe and Mail

«Lo que hace tan interesantes sus novelas es su apuesta por cambiar siempre de ángulo o decidirse por el más inesperado, su estilo lírico y delicado aunque directo y estremecedor, su atención al detalle producto de una investigación profunda que, sin embargo, llega con gran naturalidad a la página.» Mariana Enriquez

«Lo más notable de Maggie O'Farrell no es el amenazante, claustrofóbico, estético fondo histórico que sirve de base a 'El retrato de casada', sino lo que Marguerite Yourcenar llama el tono de una ficción histórica.» Lourdes Ventura (El Cultural)

«Si para algo tiene destreza Maggie O'Farrell es para trazar personajes femeninos, para dotarlos de vida.» Lara Hermoso (Efecto Doppler - RNE)

«O'Farrell es una gran contadora de historias.» Mey Zamora.

«Vuelve a sobresalir O'Farrell en el estilo delicado, en el ritmo, en la construcción de ambientes.» Adolfo Torrecilla.

«Es la calidad narrativa de O'Farrell, su brillante capacidad para la introspección psicológica y su plástica recreación del pasado, la que engancha al lector.» Andrés Seoane (El Mundo)

«O'Farrell lleva a la superficie lo que permanece invisible y escondido.» Karina Sainz Borgo (ABC)

«Maggie O'Farrell ha encontrado una voz narrativa novedosa que le permite descender hasta los recodos más apartados del intimismo.» Javier Ors (La Razón)

«O'Farrell recrea con maestría la explosión del Renacimiento (...). Retrata con empatía la soledad y desesperación de una adolescente culta y brillante, enviada lejos de casa como moneda de cambio, aterrorizada en su noche de bodas (...) y asfixiada por las intrigas de una salvaje encrucijada político-doméstica. Lo que hoy llamaríamos un gaslighting de manual.» Leticia Blanco (El Periódico)

«Como ya hiciera en la aclamadísima 'Hamnet', O'Farrell despliega en 'El...

.

El matrimonio era su destino. Ahora tendrá que sobrevivir a él. La esperadísima nueva novela de Maggie O'Farrell tras el gran éxito internacional de Hamnet . Florencia, mediados del siglo XVI. Lucrezia, tercera hija del gran duque Cosimo de' Medici, es una niña callada y perspicaz, con un singular talento para el dibujo, que disfruta de su discreto y tranquilo lugar en el palazzo . Pero cuando muere su hermana Maria, justo antes de casarse con Alfonso d'Este, primogénito del duque de Ferrara, Lucrezia se convierte inesperadamente en el centro de atención: el duque se apresura a pedir su mano, y su padre a aceptarla. Poco después, con solo quince años, se traslada a la corte de Ferrara, donde es recibida con recelo. Su marido, doce años mayor, es un enigma: ¿es en realidad el hombre sensible y comprensivo que le pareció al principio o un déspota implacable al que todos temen? Lo único que está claro es lo que se espera de ella: que proporcione cuanto antes un heredero que asegure la continuidad del título. Con la misma belleza y emoción con las que nos cautivó en Hamnet , Maggie O'Farrell vuelve a demostrar su inigualable talento para adentrarse en los recovecos del pasado en El retrato de casada , una novela que reinterpreta desde la ficción un capítulo de la Italia renacentista y narra la lucha contra el destino de una joven asombrosa. «O'Farrell es simplemente excepcional (...) Delicadamente escrita y llena de imágenes vívidas.» The Guardian «Ingeniosa, imaginativa, humana, irónica, verdadera... todavía mejor que su última novela.» Scotsman «Esta cautivadora historia sobre el poder, la política y la lucha de una mujer por su supervivencia es otra obra maestra de la autora.» The Globe and Mail «Lo que hace tan interesantes sus novelas es su apuesta por cambiar siempre de ángulo o decidirse por el más inesperado, su estilo lírico y delicado aunque directo y estremecedor, su atención al detalle producto de una investigación profunda que, sin embargo, llega con gran naturalidad a la página.» Mariana Enriquez

I 1560 forlater femten år gamle Lucrezia de' Medici hjembyen Firenze for å starte sitt ekteskapelige samliv med hertugen av Ferrara. Under et år senere er hun død. Dødsårsaken var offisielt «flekkfeber», men ryktene om at hun var blitt myrdet av sin ektemann, var vanskelige å slukke. Få skriver historiske romaner som Maggie O'Farrell. Med «Portrett av en brud» gir hun et fascinerende innblikk i livet ved et italiensk renessansehoff - og i datidens kvinneliv.

-- Hamnet, --