The Ornatrix - Brossura

Kate Howard

Brossura

ISBN 10: 0715650971 ISBN 13: 9780715650974

Casa editrice: Duckworth, 2016

Riassunto

Flavia was born with a birthmark marring her face in the shape of a bird in flight. A dyer's daughter, she grows up in a secluded little house in the woods, away from prying eyes. Ashamed of the mark, her mother forces Flavia to conceal her face behind a veil. But on the night before her younger sister's wedding, Flavia does something drastic, something that will draw her into a much wider and stranger world than she could have imagined: the convent of Santa Giuliana, just outside the city walls. There she meets Ghostanza, a courtesan turned widow, whose white-lead painted face entrances Flavia, and whose beauty and cruelty are unmatched. Flavia becomes her ornatrix: her hairdresser and personal maid. But as white-lead paint rots the flesh below it, the bustling city, and Santa Giuliana, is rotting below the shimmer of wealth and privilege. And Flavia is drawn into a world of desire and jealousy that has devastating consequences. Set in sixteenth century and painted against a vivid historical Italian landscape, rich in description and character and with themes and characters relevant to today, it tackles issues of belonging, female identity and the perception of beauty. It cannot fail to move.

Su questo libro

Recensione:

'Dazzling... a first novel of originality and, yes, beauty.' The Times

'A richly drawn cast of twisted characters... lyrical... beguiling.' Vogue

'Kate Howard's marvellous debut novel creates a seething, sensual idiom entirely its own. Exquisite, earthy, witty - this is a book of rare beauty, about beauty. In this intensely-imagined, elegant and erudite novel, the story of a 16th century Italian woman's quest for beauty springs vividly to life.' Wendy Wallace, author of The Painted Bridge

'A historical novel in the old fashioned style... deliciously complex and intelligent.' Essie Fox, author of The Goddess and the Thief

'Richly drawn historical novel.' Sheerluxe, Summer Reads

'Brilliant... kept me guessing until the end.' --Lisa Cox, Nudge

Kate Howard s marvelous debut novel creates a seething, sensual idiom entirely its own. Exquisite, earthy, witty this is a book of rare beauty, about beauty. In this intensely-imagined, elegant and erudite novel, the story of a 16th century Italian woman s quest for beauty springs vividly to life. --Wendy Wallace, author of The Painted Bridge"

A historical novel in the old-fashioned style deliciously complex and intelligent. --Essie Fox, author of The Goddess and the Thief"

L'autore:

Kate Howard has lived and worked in Italy for many years, but now lives in Brighton. She works at the University of Sussex and The Ornatrix is her first novel.

Su questa edizione

• Editore: Duckworth
• Data di pubblicazione: 2016
• ISBN 10: 0715650971
• ISBN 13: 9780715650974
• Rilegatura: Copertina flessibile
• Numero di pagine: 272