Signora Da Vinci
An enchanting novel on the life and origins of Leonardo da Vinci's mother, as imagined by the author of the "absolutely superb" (Diane Haeger, author of The Secret Bride) Mademoiselle Boleyn.
A young woman named Caterina was only fifteen years old in 1452 when she bore an illegitimate child in the tiny village of Vinci. His name was Leonardo, and he was destined to change the world forever.
A young woman named Caterina was only fifteen years old in 1452 when she bore an illegitimate child in the tiny village of Vinci. His name was Leonardo, and he was destined to change the world forever.
Caterina suffered much cruelty as an unmarried mother and had no recourse when her boy was taken away from her. But no one knew the secrets of her own childhood, nor could ever have guessed the dangerous and heretical scheme she would devise to protect and watch over her remarkable son. This captivating novel imagines the story of Caterina--the brilliant young woman, the adventurer, the alchemist--during the fascinating period of the Renaissance.
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Community Reviews
I was excited when my book club chose this title -- I expected it to be about Da Vinci and his family set amid the excitement of the Italian renaissance. But this is a poorly written harlequin-romance fictional tale. Two stars is being generous. The author abused every stereotype in the "young girl vs. the cruel world" trope. For example: a poor small-town girl gets pregnant by her wealthy, upper-class boyfriend because he says he loves her and promises to marry her. Then she's crushed when he won't/can't marry her, and his family takes away little Leonardo. But she decides to become the wet nurse so she can be with her child, even if she has to live in the barn. When he grows up and goes to the big city to study she cuts her hair and becomes a "man" so she can follow him. Doh...it quickly goes downhill from there. My Kindle said I made it through 25% of the book - that was painful enough for me.
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