The Birth of Venus cover art

The Birth of Venus

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The Birth of Venus

By: Sarah Dunant
Narrated by: Laurence Bouvard
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About this listen

Alessandra is not quite fifteen when her prosperous father brings a young painter back from Holland to adorn the new family chapel. Fascinated by his ability she is lured into closer involvement. On the streets of Florence she observes a terrible evil stalking the city and a fiery priest, who has set out to rid the city of vice, even art itself.

©2002 Sarah Dunant (P)2006 W F Howes Ltd Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Romance Middle Ages

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All stars
Most relevant
I quite like this story that’s why I heard it all ...but I am sorry the reader although thankfully the narrater voice was ok all other characters were not ...I don’t understand surely there is a someone to produce direct ? I am listening at the moment to Juliet Stevenson the comparison is palpable..I listen A LOT I love it and sometimes I don’t like the reader but that’s a matter of taste but this time it truly was the performance that wasn’t good enough I hope this isn’t harsh too harsh but I feel needed to be said your sincerely Elizabeth Lewis

How a book is performed

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I liked the way the story came together and I liked her maid. Good description of that period of time in Florence,.

Easy listen and well put together

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We meet Alessandra as a fourteen year old girl. Her father has brings back a young painter, from Holland. His task is to paint the new family chapel.

Ever questioning, loving art, she becomes involved in his life.

Both of them become swept up by the force, that is set to sweep through Flanders.

I Really Enjoyed This Book!

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One can never be sure with a Sarah Dunant novel whether you will adore it or struggle with it. For me the Birth of Venus fell into the latter category. No one could fault the way Sarah Dunant conjures up the look and feel of Florence and its residents through a time of tumultuous change but oh I found the characters irritating and the central thread of the plot rather pointless. Many a time I almost gave up on this book which is most unusual for me. I nevertheless soldiered on and I obviously cared enough about the characters to want to know the end - but I'm afraid not a 5 star listen for me.

Descriptive but frustrating

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Any additional comments?

Botticelli's painting is on the cover, it's called the Birth of Venus, and yet Botticelli barely makes a cameo. Instead, we get to hear about a later Renaissance painter, known for his broody Christianity, but his entire narrative is completely historically inaccurate. Like, every detail. It wasn't historic fiction so much as fiction in an alternate universe that resembles Renaissance Florence.

Where's Botticelli?

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