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Costanza

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Costanza

By: Rachel Blackmore
Narrated by: Esther Wane
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About this listen

 'In Blackmore's striking fictional retelling of this true history, Costanza refuses to accept a fate as nothing more than a victim of male exploitation' SUNDAY TIMES, BEST HISTORICAL FICTION
'Emotionally intense' DAILY MAIL
'A stunning, visceral portrait of a woman and her life and a story as relevant now as it was then. I was gripped' JENNIE GODFREY
'Wonderful... This novel took over my life for the time I was buried in it. Powerful and deeply affecting' PATERSON JOSEPH

Rome, 1636: In the scorched city of Rome, the cobbled streets hum with gossip and sin...

Costanza Piccolomini is a respectable young wife - until she meets Gianlorenzo Bernini, the famed sculptor and star of Roman society, whose jet-black gaze matches his dark temper. From the second they set eyes upon each other, a fatal attraction is born.

Their secret love burns with a passion that consumes them. But with every stolen kiss and illicit tryst, Costanza's reputation is at stake. Meanwhile, Bernini has a dangerous desire: he wants to make Costanza immortal. He vows to possess her not just in body and soul, but also in marble.

When Bernini unveils his sculpture of Costanza, she is exposed as his lover, marking the undoing of their affair - and the beginning of a scandal which will rock Roman society. For Bernini would rather destroy Costanza than let her go.

Betrayed. Abandoned. Banished. This was meant to be the end of Costanza's story. But Costanza is no ordinary woman: from the ashes, she will rise...

History calls her a Muse. Temptress. Fallen woman. This is her story. Costanza is a dizzying, sensual novel that brings to life a feminist icon who has been written out of history. This utterly addictive tale of desire and betrayal is perfect for fans of The Marriage Portrait and The Miniaturist.

'I loved it... Rich and evocative in its portrayal of 17th Century Rome. A fabulous, evocative novel' Elizabeth Chadwick

'From the first page I was hooked. Love, lust, fury and betrayal leap from the page. This is a must-read for anyone who wants to read a true feminist retelling' Louise Hare, author of This Lovely City

'This has to be my book of the year! Full of passion and desire... A story of the resilience of women in the face of male power' Sheila O'Flanagan, author of The Honeymoon Affair

'A gorgeous tale of female resilience steeped in the glamour and danger of renaissance-era Rome. Blackmore restores the lively Costanza from a footnote in Bernini's story to the heroine of her own' Luna McNamara, author of Psyche and Eros

'A revelation... A splendid debut - brava! And a super summer read' Ellen Alpsten, author of Tsarina

'Sumptuous, immersive and bold, Costanza breathes life into a woman frozen in marble for three hundred years, finally giving her a chance to speak... Costanza is both a cathartic cry and a clarion call for justice for generations of forgotten women' Hesse Phillips, author of Lightborne

'I was mesmerised by Costanza, a searing, fierce tale of obsession, revenge, and resilience. An unforgettable debut novel' Naomi Kelsey, author of The Burnings

'I sat up into the early hours, unable to drag myself away from Costanza - what a joy! Rachel Blackmore rescues Costanza, wronged and defiant, from the shadows of history' Karen Powell, author of Fifteen Wild Decembers

'Like all the best writers of historical fiction, Blackmore uses her examination of the past to shed light on the present day, in this searing indictment of the treatment and objectification of women. Meticulously researched, atmospheric and beautifully observed, this is a heartbreaking but ultimately triumphant story of one woman's determination to follow her own path' Bridget Walsh, author of The Innocents

'A shocking story. Deeply felt... Quite apart from anything else, I will look at Bernini in a new light' Elizabeth Buchan, author of The Museum of Broken Promises

'Costanza is such a stunner of a novel - still thinking about it and I've been recommending it to everyone! Get it on your summer reading lists, people!!' Penelope Slocombe, author of Sunbirds

'A stunning read - very powerful. The writing is so beautiful and the historical detail mesmerising' Nicola Cornick, author of The Forgotten Sister©2024 Rachel Blackmore (P)2024 Hodder & Stoughton Limited Biographical Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Historical Fiction Renaissance Women's Fiction Marriage Rome

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All stars
Most relevant
Immaculately written and researched, Quality read, a book you can not put down.“Wonderful debut .

Fantastic read

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So well written and the detail! I could of been there!
The narrator for this book was an excellent choice!
A really gorgeous story to listen too, from flying high too the depths of my soul ❤️ So sad when the story came to an end 😢

Brilliant! Bravo!

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This novel was a wonderful first outing for the author as a writer of historical fiction. The story explores themes of misogyny, patriarchy, religion, art, society…. all within the context of vibrant description and compelling characters. Highly recommend!

A fabulous debut novel

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Absolutely loved this book..Binge listened in fact! An intriguing historical tale, told with such colour & texture..a deeply compelling listen , also beautifulyl narrated. I must confesss, I had to also buy the limited edition hard copy to add to my library as it is as exquisitely beautiful as the description of the fabrics of Costanzas dresses. Rachel Blackmore I can't wait for your next book!!

A captivatingly detailed & vivid step back in time. Thank you 😊

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The fictional art history 16th century sculpture brought a sculpture to life. Costanza’s life story told by Helen Blackmore. Worth looking at an image of the real sculpture as you’d never imagine that such a simple portrait had such and impact on a woman’s life. Very enjoyable listen, although the reader’s interpretation of male voices aren’t her strong point. Worth listening on to all of the Epilogues and notes at the end for more factual information provided by the author about how she set about writing the novel.

Art history brought to life

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