Browsing through the shelves of the ship's library on a recent Baltic cruise I came across a newish first novel by an American author called Melodie Winawer and the title immediately attracted my attention - it was called "The Scribe of Siena". Reading through the synopsis of the story I knew I had to read it and I thought I'd write a brief review for this blog.
Her brother Ben, a medieval historian, lives in Siena and regular correspondence with him tells of his absorbing interest in researching the effects of the Black Death in the city in the 14th century. One day she receives a letter from her brother's Italian solicitor telling of his untimely death from a heart condition and at the same time telling her she has inherited his Sienese home and all its contents. The letter urgently asks her to make arrangements to visit his office in the city and sign all the appropriate papers to take over his property.
Taking time out from her busy schedule she flies to Siena and takes possession of his home in one of Siena's ancient contrada. Going though her brother's things she discovers his research notes and learns more of what he was working on and his interest in a particular in a 14th century Sienese artist called Gabriele. Intrigued by his work further research reveals images of the artist's work including a 14th century fresco painting in which she's startled to discover a female figure with her own face. As her mind swirls with this discovery she's suddeny and mysteriously transported back in time to the city on the eve of the arrival of the Black Death.
The story unfolds and revolves round the relationship between Beatrice and Gabriele in a whirlwind of events leading up to the arrival of the terrible plague which would have a particularly devastating effect on Siena - far worse than in nearby Florence. Much of the story takes place in and around the vicinity of the Ospedale de Santa Maria della Scala opposite Siena's great Duomo and I found this particularly interesting given I've already written about this famous building in this blog.
I don't want to give away too much of the narrative - suffice to say that it's a fascinating tale which interfaces the hazy line between past and present and completely absorbs the reader in 14th century Siena. The novel is thoroughly researched in terms of historical events and even down to the nuances of costume and behaviour in this most medieval of Italian cities Add to that a powerful layer of art history and the intriguing context is almost complete for the development of an engaging plot. Written with confidence and imagination Winawer's novel is a diverting page turning love story and thrilling mystery with broad appeal and its set in the time perios when the ravages of the Black Death would wipe out a third or more of Europe's population.
Winawer herself is a physician-scientist and professor of neurology at Columbia University in New York with degrees from New York University, Yale and the University of Pennsylvania in biological psychology, medicine and epidemiology. She lives in New York with her family. As I mentioned at the beginning - this is her debut novel. For those of you who enjoy Italian medieval history and art and like a good story to boot this is a book you will surely enjoy.
Ciao
Ian
Taking time out from her busy schedule she flies to Siena and takes possession of his home in one of Siena's ancient contrada. Going though her brother's things she discovers his research notes and learns more of what he was working on and his interest in a particular in a 14th century Sienese artist called Gabriele. Intrigued by his work further research reveals images of the artist's work including a 14th century fresco painting in which she's startled to discover a female figure with her own face. As her mind swirls with this discovery she's suddeny and mysteriously transported back in time to the city on the eve of the arrival of the Black Death.
The story unfolds and revolves round the relationship between Beatrice and Gabriele in a whirlwind of events leading up to the arrival of the terrible plague which would have a particularly devastating effect on Siena - far worse than in nearby Florence. Much of the story takes place in and around the vicinity of the Ospedale de Santa Maria della Scala opposite Siena's great Duomo and I found this particularly interesting given I've already written about this famous building in this blog.
I don't want to give away too much of the narrative - suffice to say that it's a fascinating tale which interfaces the hazy line between past and present and completely absorbs the reader in 14th century Siena. The novel is thoroughly researched in terms of historical events and even down to the nuances of costume and behaviour in this most medieval of Italian cities Add to that a powerful layer of art history and the intriguing context is almost complete for the development of an engaging plot. Written with confidence and imagination Winawer's novel is a diverting page turning love story and thrilling mystery with broad appeal and its set in the time perios when the ravages of the Black Death would wipe out a third or more of Europe's population.
Winawer herself is a physician-scientist and professor of neurology at Columbia University in New York with degrees from New York University, Yale and the University of Pennsylvania in biological psychology, medicine and epidemiology. She lives in New York with her family. As I mentioned at the beginning - this is her debut novel. For those of you who enjoy Italian medieval history and art and like a good story to boot this is a book you will surely enjoy.
Ciao
Ian
