This historical fiction book is set in Italy (Florence, Venice and Mantua) in the late 16th century.

Giulia Albizza, an orphan, is chosen to test the virility of Prince Vincenzo Gonzaga of Mantua before the powerful Florentine de’ Medici family will approve his marriage into the family. In return for her virginity, Giulia is promised a dowry and a husband. The de Medici’s minister, Belisario Vinta, picks Giulia from the orphanage and after her meeting with the prince in Venice, finds her a husband, Giuliano Sperati.

Most of the book is narrated in first person by Giulia. She is almost 50 years of age when she decides to write her story in the form of a letter to her mother whom she never knew. She writes about her grim life in the orphanage, events leading up to her encounter with the prince, and her life after what was called the Congress of Venice. There are also some chapters which are readings from Giuliano’s ricordanze.

The novel emphasizes how women in Renaissance Italy are the pawns of men. Daughters are the property of their fathers. If they are unwed, “surplus to the demand for young brides,” they are placed in convents; if they marry, they become the property of their husbands. A woman is to protect her virginity above all else, yet such considerations are ignored when the interests of powerful men are involved. Giulia states, “What happened to me was no less than an affair of state. A mortal sin condoned by cardinals.” When she is chosen by Vinta, she really has no choice. Her life in the orphanage is truly miserable: she is nameless, existing “only because of the bounty of others,” and is unloved. There will be no reprieve from that life because she is expected to become a nun. And obviously she is in no position to refuse the wishes of the Grand Duke. After she fulfills the role for which she has been chosen, she is still at Vinta’s mercy; he, “a great dark bird of prey,” remains a dominant, controlling presence for her entire life. Despite her lack of agency, Giulia’s reputation is tarnished. And servants like Deodata and Isabella are really sex slaves.

Men are allowed to behave in ways that condemn a woman. Men, especially powerful men, are allowed to have mistresses and illegitimate children; such behaviour is condoned, much less punished. A rape is described but the victim knows that she will never speak of it because she would never be believed. In fact, she would be blamed: “My face and form caused him to sin.” One gentlewoman who has an unapproved relationship with someone seen as inappropriate causes a great scandal and is harshly punished.

The book is okay, but I didn’t find myself mesmerized. I found it slow and it just felt flat; it is interesting but didn’t arouse an emotional response. The first part, which is apparently quite accurate in historical terms, appealed to me more than the second part which is less grounded in known facts.

Note: I received an eARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

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