Monday, April 2, 2012

A-Z April Blogging Challenge - A - Artemisia by Alexandra Lapierre

Well, the A-Z April Blogging Challenged has commenced and I'm 9 hours and 30 minutes behind!  I have a most excellent excuse, however.  Yesterday I participated in an awareness and fundraising event for the Transplant Society.  A heart-rending experience in some ways as donor families and recipients told their stories.  Are you an organ donor?  If not, contact your local or national association and register!

Okay, now onto my theme for the A-Z Blogging Challenge - "Books I Would Like to Read".   Each letter of the alphabet will correspond to the title of a historical fiction novel I would like to read with a brief synopsis.  So, with no further ado:



Artesmisia: A Novel by Alexandra Lapierre (Liz Heron - Translator)

Artemisia Gentileschi, a pioneer female painter of the Italian 17th Century Renaissance, was kept virtually hostage by her famous painter father as his model and student.  That is, until she was raped at the age of 17 by one of her father's associates.  She endured torture and a scandalous trial which proved her veraciousness, but the notoriety ruined her prospects and forced her to leave Rome.

She eventually married (courtesy of a generous dowry), but suffered personal tribulations.  Throughout adversities, she continued to paint and gained the admiration of art fashionatas.

Artemisia: A Novel is a blend of biography and literature.  It appears to be a heavy read, but worth the effort according to reviews.  I was unable to find any other novels concerning Artesmisia as highly regarded as Alexandra Lapierre's.

No comments:

Post a Comment