Sarah dunant book club

The problem with reading a book by sarah dunant is that anything you read after is a disappointment. Sarah dunant is the author of the international bestsellers the birth of venus, in the company of the courtesan, sacred hearts and blood and beauty, which have received major acclaim on both sides of the atlantic. Her descriptions of florentine art and artists are first rate and seductive. Her earlier novels include three hannah wolfe crime thrillers, as well as snowstorms in a hot climate, transgressions and mapping the edge. Reading guide for the birth of venus by sarah dunant discussion guide for book clubs. In under my skin, private investigator hannah wolfes cushy new assignment takes her to the sumptuous castle dean health spa. Dunant was born and grew up in london, the daughter of david dunant, a welsh airline steward and later manager at british airways, and his french wife estelle, who was brought up in bangalore, india she was educated at the local girls grammar school, godolphin and latymer. The birth of venus by sarah dunant, paperback barnes. Sarah dunant s most popular book is the birth of venus. After a brief spell working for the bbc, she spent much of her twenties traveling japan, india, asia and central and south america before starting to write.

She was born in london and studied history at cambridge. The birth of venus by sarah dunant 2004, paperback for. Sarah dunants epic novel of sixteenthcentury renaissance italy is a story about the sins of pleasure and the pleasures of sin, an intoxicating mix of fact and fiction, and a dazzling portait of one of the worlds greatest cities at its most potent moment in history. However, it is inappropriate for a young girl to be educated, let alone pursue a passion like art. Sarah dunant is such an author, someone whose historical novels are delectably real and deliciously provocative. This extraordinary political player the author sarah dunant herself has said he has the mind of putin and the body of pavarotti is seen here moving into old age. Sarah dunant is a cultural commentator, awardwinning thriller writer and author of five novels set in renaissance italy exploring womens lives through art, sex. Her heroine is the gifted, fourteenyearold alessandra. Under my skin book by sarah dunant official publisher. In the name of the family the bestselling author of blood and beauty returns with another captivating novel about renaissance italy and one of history s most notorious families. In in the name of the family, sarah dunant tackles the ascendant years of the borgia family in a somewhat contradictory manner.

Browse author series lists, sequels, pseudonyms, synopses, book covers, ratings and awards. The birth of venus by sarah dunant book club discussion. She has worked widely in print, television, and radio. Sarah dunant is a cultural commentator, awardwinning thriller writer and author of five novels set in renaissance italy exploring womens lives through art, sex and religion. Sign up to our emails to be the first to know about new releases, the latest news from sarah dunant, and take part. I want to get your input on your favorite reads set in places we are visiting. While being plucked, crimped, steamed, and oiled, hannah is ideally placed to probe some reported. Sarah dunant has 26 books on goodreads with 262705 ratings. Sarah was raised by her father david dunant, who was a steward for the welsh airlines and later became a manager at the british airways along with his wife estelle who. It brings alive the history of florence at its most dramatic period, telling a compulsively absorbing story of love, art, religion, and power through the passionate voice of alessandra, a heroine with the same. Join the delart readers, a communityled book club passionate about artinspired literature. Now that ive finished reading the sequel, however, im not as enthusiastic about dunants achievement. The author of the critically acclaimed hannah wolfe mystery series, sarah dunant is also well known in the united kingdom for her work as a television host.

It tells the story of a woman living alone in a rambling house in north london in which strange things start to happen scratch any novel and you find not only the writers fears but perhaps even the house she lives in. Thus begins in the company of the courtesan, sarah dunants epic novel of life in renaissance italy. James naughtie and an audience of readers discuss sarah dunants the birth of venus, an erotic thriller set in renaissance florence. The birth of venus is a novel by author sarah dunant. The novel sacred hearts, a story of nuns in an enclosed convent in 16th ferrara, led to collaboration with the early music group, musica secreta. Sarah dunant is a renowned english writer along with being a broadcaster and critic. Novelist, broadcaster and critic sarah dunant was born in 1950, and was. Dunant lives parttime in florence, and her love of the city is evident on every page. Dunant was conducted by kate larson, who coordinates book. Content includes books from bestselling, midlist and debut authors. She has two daughters, and lives in london and florence. The birth of venus by sarah dunant great pick for 2020. The talented sarah dunant sets this wonderful, ambitious novel in renaissance florence.

Dunant pays these debts with a passion that makes me want to go straight out and read all her other books. In the name of the family by sarah dunant discussion. From there she won a place at newnham college, cambridge where she read history and was involved in theatre and footlights. I am a great fan of historical novelist sarah dunant. This is an unforgettable story that reads like a thriller and contains a goldmine of discussion topics for your book club. The book club formerly first tuesday book club is an australian television show that discusses books, ostensibly in the style of a domestic book club. Reading guide for the birth of venus by sarah dunant bookbrowse. In the name of the family, by sarah dunant sarah dunants latest novel follows one of historys most notorious families the borgias. Instead, alessandra is expected to marry and give birth to many children. Sarah dunant, the bestselling author of the birth of venus and in the company of the courtesan, brings this intricate renaissance world compellingly to life. Sarah dunant books list of books by author sarah dunant. Diana gabaldon, the washington post bestselling novelist sarah dunant has long been drawn to the high drama of renaissance italy. A site dedicated to book lovers providing a forum to discover and share commentary about the books and authors they enjoy. Before the corleones, before the lannisters, there was the borgias.

British novelist, broadcaster, and critic sarah dunant is well known on both sides of the pond for her bestselling series of mysteries featuring sleuth hannah wolfe. Simon schama sarah dunant has given us a story of sacrifice and betrayal, set during florences captivity under the fanatic savonarola. If one or more works are by a distinct, homonymous authors, go ahead and split the author. In the company of the courtesan the books the book club. The birth of venus sarah dunant, 2003 random house 416 pp. Escaping the sack of rome in 1527, with their stomachs churning on the jewels they have swallowed, the courtesan fiammetta and her dwarf companion, bucino, head for venice, the shimmering city born out of water to become a miracle of eastwest. The resulting furore over the actions of the heroine caused the book to. This novel is set in thirteenthcentury florence where twelveyearold alessandra desperately wants to become an artist. Acclaimed author sarah dunant brings the intricate renaissance world. With her first historical novel, the birth of venus, dunant explores another scene. All meetings will be held on zoom via webcam at 6 pm until further notice. Sarah dunant audio books, best sellers, author bio. A decade before her dazzling breakthrough novel, the birth of venus, silver dagger awardwinning author sarah dunant won critical acclaim for her hannah wolfe crime novels. I have read all of her historical fiction and, as good as all of her books are, this one surpasses all.

The birth of venus by sarah dunant is a work of historical fiction set in 15th century florence, a time of enormous political, religious and artistic upheaval. Elements of research peep through, clearly based on correspondence and other documents written by and about those near to the borgias. Sarah s monthly history program and podcast on history can be found via the bbc website. Last month i started my online book club and asked for your recommendations for books set in italy. In the company of the courtesan audiobook by sarah. Sarah dunant born 8 august 1950 is a british novelist, journalist, broadcaster, and critic. The show first aired on the abc on 1 august 2006 and was scheduled. Amid sacred hearts is a rich, engrossing, multifaceted love story, encompassing the passions of the flesh, the exultation of the spirit, and the deep, enduring power of friendship. Barber book club the barber institute of fine arts.

She is the daughter of david dunant, a former welsh airline steward who later became manager of british airways, and his french wife. Sarah dunant is the author of the international bestsellers the birth of venus, in the company of the courtesan, sacred hearts, and blood and beauty, which have received major acclaim on both sides of the atlantic. She is married with two daughters, and lives in london and florence. The birth of venus random house readers circle deluxe reading group edition. She was born on 8 august 1950 in london, england and lived there until she went to college. She writes like a painter, and thinks like a philosopher. Fascinated by dunants reconsideration of lucretia borgia and renaissance italy in blood and beauty, i wanted to read what is perhaps her bestknown novel, the birth of venus. Sarah dunant is currently considered a single author. Dunant writes like a painter and thinks like a philosopheri think. The story begins in 1527 with the sack of rome by irony of.