About book The Secret Book Of Grazia Dei Rossi (1998)
Lordy, lately I’ve read so many books about ladies in Renaissance Italy, I keep expecting the characters of one novel to wander off the pages of their own book and show up in another, re-living the same events. Oh dear! It’s the bonfire of the vanities! Alessandra from The Birth of Venus and Grazia from this novel may as well be peering down at it from opposite houses. Alas, that Lucrezia Borgia—is she the pawn of Blood and Beauty or the incestuous harlot in this story? God help us, Rome has been sacked! Did the famed Fiametta Banchini from In the Company of the Courtesan happen to encounter Grazia as they were both fleeing the city?You get the idea.At least this book has the added feature of a heroine distinguished by her Jewish religion, which brings an additional sense of peril to the text. From a young age, Grazia was exposed to the mercurial temperament of the Italian rulers and their citizens, who could and did turn on them on a dime—or, more specifically, whenever there was a plague, a crop failure, a war going badly, or whenever they simply wanted to shirk out of the money owed to the banks. Over the course of her life, Grazia found herself challenged, time and again, by the tenets of her faith versus the pull of her heart, which was forever pledged to a Christian man—a cousin of the d’Este family and therefore closely connected with Isabella d’Este, Grazia’s overbearing and not-always-helpful patroness. As in most of the best historical novels, the rich details of Renaissance Italy, coupled with the author’s talent in drawing them out without sending the reader to sleep, is what really makes this a satisfying and rewarding novel.
I've had this book for quite a few years now - it was given to me as a Christmas gift, I believe, but definitely by my mother. (Interesting aside: most books that she has picked for me over the years I have enjoyed, but I'm hard-pressed to do the same for her. She loses interest quickly). I put it into my collection and promptly forgot about it. Now, through the power of random assortment, it appeared on my to-read list. Historical fiction is not usually my genre - probably because of choices that have done me ill over the years ("romance novels" masquerading as historical fiction because they major players are dating and mating in a different era). And while this certainly has its share of romance and intrigue, it also has a lush backdrop of Renaissance Italy, with a Jewish woman for a heroine. It was, perhaps, a teensy bit too long, but I still enjoyed it. In addition to the war versus peace and love between two different men motifs, there was also the added struggle of Grazia's religious beliefs - should she convert to Christianity and leave behind everything she has ever known, or hold steadfastly to Judaism, even when that means being thrown into the ghettos, where the gates are locked at sundown? I also liked the unlikely relationship between Grazia and Isabella d'Este, and how it occasionally crossed into less of a menial and monarchical relationship.
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"This is a fabulous book if you love the Italian rennaissance era, and all the political and religous intrigue that it brings. Grazia is an incredibly intelligent and scholarly heroine - quite unusual for the time and I loved the way this book fully explores and expands on her scholarly pursuits. I had recently read Tobsha Learner's the Witch of Cologne and initially I was tempted to constantly compare the two. I did find this book a better read, as I became turned off by the W.O.C.'s focus on the more ""passionate"" aspects of the book which I didn't think added to the story. That being said, I would definitely recommend this book to historical fiction fans and even those who aren't!"
—Miranda
It took me a long time to finish this book but it was worth it! I do enjoy good historical fiction and this one is very good. Set in Renaissance Italy, Grazia dei Rossi doesn't let the fact that she is a woman -- and a Jewish woman, at that -- hold her back. She is smart and astute and fearless, and she forges a life for herself in defiance of the many obstacles placed in her path. She wins fast friends and has devoted family ties, while struggling with betrayal and corruption and unfulfilled love. Following Grazia's life story was a revealing glimpse at what life might have resembled during the early 16th century. The politics of the times becomes wearisome in places, but rarely overshadows the story of Grazia's life. If you like historical fiction, this is a good choice!
—CynthiaA
This is a very well written and researched book set in Renaissance Italy 1484-1527. Our main character is an educated young Jewish woman. As well as great storytelling, this book is also a great way to learn the history of the period,including the basis of the banking industry, the birth of Jewish ghettos, the fury of zealots like Savonarola, the wars between aristocratic principalities France, the Roman Emperor, and the Pope; and the effects of Spain's wealth from its exploration of the New World. I loved the book (and so did my husband) so much I've made it my selection for my book club.
—Lauren Edie
