The Marriage Portrait
The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O’Farrell, published by Headline Publishing Group on July 6, 2023, is a historical fiction novel that immerses readers in the vibrant world of Renaissance Italy. This edition spans 438 pages and is presented in English. The narrative centers on Lucrezia de’ Medici, a young duchess navigating the complexities of a troubled court after her sister’s unexpected death leads to her own arranged marriage.
Readers will find a richly detailed exploration of Lucrezia’s life as she grapples with her new role and the expectations placed upon her. The story delves into themes of art and history, revealing the intricacies of court life and the challenges faced by women in this era. As Lucrezia confronts the duality of her husband, Alfonso, and the demands of her position, the novel paints a vivid portrait of her struggle for identity and survival within a world that seeks to define her.
Official synopsis Publisher
WOMEN’S PRIZE FOR FICTION FINALIST – REESE’S BOOK CLUB PICK – NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLER – The author of award-winning Hamnet brings the world of Renaissance Italy to jewel-bright life in this unforgettable fictional portrait of the captivating young duchess Lucrezia de’ Medici as she makes her way in a troubled court.
“I could not stop reading this incredible true story.” –Reese Witherspoon (Reese’s Book Club Pick)
“O’Farrell pulls out little threads of historical detail to weave this story of a precocious girl sensitive to the contradictions of her station…You may know the history, and you may think you know what’s coming, but don’t be so sure.“ —The Washington Post
Florence, the 1550s. Lucrezia, third daughter of the grand duke, is comfortable with her obscure place in the palazzo: free to wonder at its treasures, observe its clandestine workings, and devote herself to her own artistic pursuits. But when her older sister dies on the eve of her wedding to the ruler of Ferrara, Modena and Reggio, Lucrezia is thrust unwittingly into the limelight: the duke is quick to request her hand in marriage, and her father just as quick to accept on her behalf.
Having barely left girlhood behind, Lucrezia must now enter an unfamiliar court whose customs are opaque and where her arrival is not universally welcomed. Perhaps most mystifying of all is her new husband himself, Alfonso. Is he the playful sophisticate he appeared to be before their wedding, the aesthete happiest in the company of artists and musicians, or the ruthless politician before whom even his formidable sisters seem to tremble?
As Lucrezia sits in constricting finery for a painting intended to preserve her image for centuries to come, one thing becomes worryingly clear. In the court’s eyes, she has one duty: to provide the heir who will shore up the future of the Ferranese dynasty. Until then, for all of her rank and nobility, the new duchess’s future hangs entirely in the balance.
Full of the beauty and emotion with which she illuminated the Shakespearean canvas of Hamnet, Maggie O’Farrell turns her talents to Renaissance Italy in an extraordinary portrait of a resilient young woman’s battle for her very survival.
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