Birth of Venus

Florence on the brink of the Reformation. The Medici lose power and the trust of the Florentines. The monk Savonarola, obsessed with his own divine calling, takes religious and political control, throwing into infernal flames everything he deems unholy.

Like her native city, Alessandra Checchi is caught between two fires: an unhappy marriage arranged by her family, and her attraction to a young painter and his art—the only place where she can find freedom.

“Birth of Venus” is the first historical novel by Sara Dunant, the well-known British writer. She brings Florence to life in its most dramatic period, telling an enthralling story of power, love, art, and religion.