The Birth of Venus

Sara Dunant, an Englishwoman, is known in Russia as the author of detective novels from modern British life—among them, the novels “Knife to the Heart,” “Rosy Marks,” and “On the Edge” published by “Inostranka.” This time she appears in an unexpected role: the author of an engrossing historical novel, immersing the reader in the atmosphere of political and religious struggle in 15th-century Florence.
The Florentine state is in turmoil: power slips from the hands of the Medici family; troops of the French king approach from the north; the fiery preacher Savonarola smashes the citizens’ vices; and meanwhile, time and again corpses disfigured by a mysterious killer are found in the streets.
The violent events pull into their whirlwind the young Alessandra Cecchi, whose meaning of life until now consisted only in painting—and in one painter. Now Alessandra will have to endure both separation from her beloved and the hateful marriage forced upon her, as well as the death of those close to her. And it will also be up to her to uncover the mystery behind the street murders.