19th century Italy. Bianca arrives at a beautiful villa in the countryside outside Milan. A gifted young watercolorist, she has been commissioned to illustrate the plants in the magnificent grounds. Bianca settles in, invited into the heart of the family by the eccentric poet Don Titta, his five children, his elegant and delicate wife and controlling mother. As the seasons pass, Bianca develops her art, and attracts many admirers. She develops a special affection for one housemaid, who, she is intrigued to learn, has mysterious origins. But as Bianca's determination to unlock the secrets of the villa grows, she little notices the dangers that lie all around her. Who is the mysterious woman she has glimpsed in the gardens? What could Don Titta and his friends be whispering about so furtively? And while Bianca watches so carefully for clues, who is watching her? In The Watercolourist, set against the intoxicating background of an Italy on the cusp of change, a young woman's naive curiosity will take her into the territory of hidden secrets, of untold truth and of love.
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About the Author:
Beatrice Masini's books have been translated into over 20 languages. She works as an editor in an Italian publishing group and has translated books such as the Harry Potter series, and in 2014 received the Andersen Prize for best children's author of the year. She won the Premio Selezione Campiello prize and the Premio Alessandro Manzoni award for best historical novel for The Watercolourist.
Review:
There's something of Manzoni . . . there are the heartbeats of the youngest Bronte sister, Anne, with her Agnes Grey . . . and, as in Rowling's Casual Vacancy, children are the best part of the story * la Repubblica * Bianca is reminiscent of both Elizabeth Bennet of Pride and Prejudice and Jo March of Little Women * Il Sole 24 Ore *
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
- PublisherMantle
- Publication date2016
- ISBN 10 1447257715
- ISBN 13 9781447257714
- BindingPaperback
- Number of pages336
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Rating