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The Botticelli Trilogy #1
A Tabernacle for the Sun
Volterra, 1472, and a young orphan called Tommaso dreams of becoming a scribe in Medicean Florence. His dreams come true, but not in the way he expected them to, and war pitches him into the city of Lorenzo de' Medici. His cousin, Antonio, tries to enlist his help in a conspiracy to murder Lorenzo. Tommaso, now living and working with men who are members of the Platonic Academy wishes to enter the Academy himself but to do so he must make his peace with the keeper of its gates - Lorenzo. Torn, he does not know his own mind and heart until fate forces his arm.
490 pages, Paperback
First published September 29, 1997
36 people are currently reading
568 people want to read
About the author
Linda Proud
15 books28 followersI was born in the land of no hope and, around age 19, opted out and started saying no to everything life had to offer. I had a glorious two years of belated childhood then everything went dark. Though the pressure to conform suddenly intensified, I carried on saying no. I said no to what appeared to be my last chance. Then everything changed. I went into this period as a painter, came out as a writer, and since then I've said yes to everything and life has been completely magical.
While I was in Hades, I returned to a topic that had interested me at college, that of the Renaissance. Before long I was driven to tell the story of the men and ideas that surrounded Botticelli, against the dramatic backdrop of the Pazzi Conspiracy. I had to learn writing skills as I went. I had no idea, then, that I was writing a trilogy and that it would take thirty years to complete.
I supported myself with a career in picture research, then in teaching creative writing to American students on Oxford programmes. I also worked as an editor with one of the top literary consultancies, helping first time authors improve their chances of publication. Now I write full time (when the allotment and the backyard chickens allow), working on a duology set in ancient Britain. The first novel, Chariot of the Soul, was published in 2018.
More information can be found on
my website and Wikipedia. Sarah Johnson conducted a very good interview which can be found on readingthepast in March/April 2008.
The best way to keep in touch is via my newsletter. Sign-up is on the website.
While I was in Hades, I returned to a topic that had interested me at college, that of the Renaissance. Before long I was driven to tell the story of the men and ideas that surrounded Botticelli, against the dramatic backdrop of the Pazzi Conspiracy. I had to learn writing skills as I went. I had no idea, then, that I was writing a trilogy and that it would take thirty years to complete.
I supported myself with a career in picture research, then in teaching creative writing to American students on Oxford programmes. I also worked as an editor with one of the top literary consultancies, helping first time authors improve their chances of publication. Now I write full time (when the allotment and the backyard chickens allow), working on a duology set in ancient Britain. The first novel, Chariot of the Soul, was published in 2018.
More information can be found on
my website and Wikipedia. Sarah Johnson conducted a very good interview which can be found on readingthepast in March/April 2008.
The best way to keep in touch is via my newsletter. Sign-up is on the website.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
August 17, 2014
This is the best book of historical fiction I've ever read, and probably my favourite novel. Based on fact, it is beautifully written by Linda Proud who takes the reader into the heart of Lorenzo de Medici's Florence, and shows us via philosophy, music and art the flowering of the Renaissance era. Straight to my favourites shelf.
July 6, 2020
An incredibly rich historical novel set in Florence in the years leading to the Pazzi conspiracy against Lorenzo de' Medici.
It is clear the author knows this time period extremely well, and paints a vivid picture not only of the historical events, but of the art, culture, philosophy and so on. Indeed, even though Lorenzo de' Medici is a central figure in the plot, he is not as present or as characterized as the artists and writers who surround him. On one hand, I wanted to see more of him, but on the other hand I appreciated the focus on minor historical figures, especially Poliziano, who was probably my favourite character along side Giuliano de' Medici.
It is true the descriptive parts were quite slow and a little dense at times, but for the most part I was impressed by the rich research behind them. I would definitely recommend this book if you are interested in the time period and appreciate meticulous historical research.
It is clear the author knows this time period extremely well, and paints a vivid picture not only of the historical events, but of the art, culture, philosophy and so on. Indeed, even though Lorenzo de' Medici is a central figure in the plot, he is not as present or as characterized as the artists and writers who surround him. On one hand, I wanted to see more of him, but on the other hand I appreciated the focus on minor historical figures, especially Poliziano, who was probably my favourite character along side Giuliano de' Medici.
It is true the descriptive parts were quite slow and a little dense at times, but for the most part I was impressed by the rich research behind them. I would definitely recommend this book if you are interested in the time period and appreciate meticulous historical research.
February 4, 2025
A richly detailed and immersive historical novel. Absolutely loved it!
I picked this book up after visiting Florence, and it transported me right back. Through Tomasso and his friends, I felt like I was living in the city, surrounded by its art, poetry, and political intrigue.
The author’s love for this time period is evident—every chapter is steeped in detail and admiration for the artists of Renaissance Florence. It was exciting to see Botticelli’s creative process, learn about Ficino, witness the rise of Leonardo da Vinci, befriend Filippino Lippi, and put up with the nerdy yet endearing Angelo Poliziano.
Tomasso’s journey begins with the siege of Volterra, a truly harrowing episode. His path from those dark days, to learning from the good-hearted bishop, to becoming a skilled scribe was fascinating.
His time in Lorenzo de’ Medici’s household was intriguing, though it occasionally felt like it dragged—particularly in the portrayal of Giuliano, who, while likable, didn’t seem particularly compelling (and eveyone was obsessed with him!). The joust scene, however, was exciting and vivid.
I would have loved to see more of Florence’s political maneuverings beyond the glimpses we get (we mostly get to hear about some church-related intrigues about the placement of bishops). That said, the description of the Pazzi conspiracy of 1478 was excellent and a high point.
Tomasso is a sincere and compelling protagonist, and overall, this book offers a wonderfully textured depiction of Renaissance Florence.
***
A few highlights
“To study number, for the sake of study itself, will lead you to the Divine. Forget heaven. To be honest, I have never met anyone who really wants to go there. The true goal of Man is union of the soul with the Divine, and an understanding of number can lead us to that.
Something stirred inside me, some waking thing. All my days I had longed for a good and adequate reason why I should study; these were the words I had waited for.
The Divine, he repeated. What do you think of that for a goal?
I considered it. No image at all came to mind, but at the same time there was a sense of profound peace, a sense of coming safely home.”
*
“The better part of me took consolation in the knowledge that, for all his wealth, Michele Inghirami did not have a Pythagorean humming string. The worse part of me itched to punch him on his fleshy nose. I had always thought that to be good is to be weak; only now was I discovering how much strength it took to behave well, and that I had not strength enough.”
*
“Everything in creation is transitory. The philosopher Marsilio Ficino once said to me that, for a man live in Truth, he must first die to this world. Without doubt I died in June 1472.”
*
“We stayed there for a night, but the next day I requested that the journey be completed, for I could suffer the oppression of fate no longer. It was best to meet it.”
*
“Vespasiano had recovered his breath. 'Somewhere, in amongst the years, I forgot what I wanted. My great desire became divided into many little ones, so that, day by day, my concerns became how to avoid debts, how to win my current case of litigation, how to rise in the guild, how to persuade princes to commission libraries of books from my workshop. And my great desire, which was for knowledge, was covered by a cloud of buzzing, droning, biting ambitions.
..do not do what I have done, which is to put off my studies until tomorrow while I spend today seeing to my affairs. For affairs are like wasps to the pollen of a man's time, a stinging swarm to which there is no end.”
*
“The day you can tell me what I am doing is the day I will tell you how I am doing it,' said Piero.
The way of the wise is to take short cuts to knowledge. The next time I saw the Bishop, I asked him what Piero could have meant.”
*
“To see only the good in a man is to see but a part of him. Surely we should confront reality and look it squarely in the eye?'
Ficino says that to dwell on the good is to give power to the good.”
*
“But hatred did not bound fatherless into creation; it cannot exist alone; hatred is the disfigured son of envy”
*
“If my heart broke at the sight of her, it was not the only one to do so. In its moment of breaking - and it is not the heart that breaks, but its shell - I felt at one with all those disparate fellows in the same condition.”
*
He was Youth, Virtue, Beauty personified.
Straight-backed, perfectly at ease on the high-stepping palfrey, he came slowly down the length of the piazza. Knowing him as a man who preferred solitude to public life, I was in awe of him now. Where any lesser man would have betrayed by a blush or a silly grin either embarrassment or pride, Giuliano, pale and composed, rested his eyes on the image of Minerva ahead and simply rode on. By this act, he honoured the occasion and everyone present.
We have a phrase in Italian: fare bella figura.
Some would say that to cut a fine figure is more important to an Italian than anything else in the universe, save perhaps avoiding damnation. It is possibly true. I notice, for instance, that the English spend more on their furniture than on their clothes, which is why I would rather be in one of their houses than out in their company.
Be that as it may, it would be wrong to suppose that Italians are more concerned with appearance than content. A true artist of la bella figura is in control of himself to the very marrow of his bones: every element of his body, mind and soul is engaged in fine deportment.”
*
“You were born under Cancer: the moon is your ruling planet, which is why you are a lunatic.
I had no doubt that Angelo's was the finer work.
It had that indefinable flash of spirit that we call
'genius'. Whatever such a thing is, it comes from the gods as a reward for the man who works for work's sake and for no personal gain. To work hard, spurred ever on by dissatisfaction with what has been achieved..”
*
“Over the years in the Medici household, my hand had developed in response to the needs of dictation; it had become, without my noticing it, careless and irregular. Though it might please an untutored eye, any fellow scribe would have dismissed it: the letters were badly spaced, ill-formed and finished with quick, thin strokes in the place of true serifs; a lazy hand by a scribe whose opinion of himself was greater than was warranted.
Humbled, I spent time refreshing my craft, for something once known is not necessarily known forever. The way of nature is a way of corruption and decay. Order is a divine force.”
*
“(Raffaello did everything) according to the rules, no matter how arbitrary and obstructive those rules might be. Thus, despite his talents and intelligence, he was destined to achieve little but local fame.
I listened to all his advice and took none.”
*
“..he suddenly asked, 'Do you believe in fate?'
Sometimes. It depends. I believe in fate when things go wrong; in my own capabilities when they go right.
Montesecco smiled and nodded. 'Honestly said and true enough. But do you believe in destiny?'
What is the difference?
'Fate is what happens to you: destiny is what you may fulfil. Fate like death is inevitable, but you can choose your destiny.'
Choose your destiny? Of course you cannot.
'Oh, but you can. Every now and then you have a sign of what lies ahead, and then you can choose whether to go towards it or not.”
*
“..their grief and outrage directed at heaven in a high-pitched keening. But I had no argument with God, only with men.”
I picked this book up after visiting Florence, and it transported me right back. Through Tomasso and his friends, I felt like I was living in the city, surrounded by its art, poetry, and political intrigue.
The author’s love for this time period is evident—every chapter is steeped in detail and admiration for the artists of Renaissance Florence. It was exciting to see Botticelli’s creative process, learn about Ficino, witness the rise of Leonardo da Vinci, befriend Filippino Lippi, and put up with the nerdy yet endearing Angelo Poliziano.
Tomasso’s journey begins with the siege of Volterra, a truly harrowing episode. His path from those dark days, to learning from the good-hearted bishop, to becoming a skilled scribe was fascinating.
His time in Lorenzo de’ Medici’s household was intriguing, though it occasionally felt like it dragged—particularly in the portrayal of Giuliano, who, while likable, didn’t seem particularly compelling (and eveyone was obsessed with him!). The joust scene, however, was exciting and vivid.
I would have loved to see more of Florence’s political maneuverings beyond the glimpses we get (we mostly get to hear about some church-related intrigues about the placement of bishops). That said, the description of the Pazzi conspiracy of 1478 was excellent and a high point.
Tomasso is a sincere and compelling protagonist, and overall, this book offers a wonderfully textured depiction of Renaissance Florence.
***
A few highlights
“To study number, for the sake of study itself, will lead you to the Divine. Forget heaven. To be honest, I have never met anyone who really wants to go there. The true goal of Man is union of the soul with the Divine, and an understanding of number can lead us to that.
Something stirred inside me, some waking thing. All my days I had longed for a good and adequate reason why I should study; these were the words I had waited for.
The Divine, he repeated. What do you think of that for a goal?
I considered it. No image at all came to mind, but at the same time there was a sense of profound peace, a sense of coming safely home.”
*
“The better part of me took consolation in the knowledge that, for all his wealth, Michele Inghirami did not have a Pythagorean humming string. The worse part of me itched to punch him on his fleshy nose. I had always thought that to be good is to be weak; only now was I discovering how much strength it took to behave well, and that I had not strength enough.”
*
“Everything in creation is transitory. The philosopher Marsilio Ficino once said to me that, for a man live in Truth, he must first die to this world. Without doubt I died in June 1472.”
*
“We stayed there for a night, but the next day I requested that the journey be completed, for I could suffer the oppression of fate no longer. It was best to meet it.”
*
“Vespasiano had recovered his breath. 'Somewhere, in amongst the years, I forgot what I wanted. My great desire became divided into many little ones, so that, day by day, my concerns became how to avoid debts, how to win my current case of litigation, how to rise in the guild, how to persuade princes to commission libraries of books from my workshop. And my great desire, which was for knowledge, was covered by a cloud of buzzing, droning, biting ambitions.
..do not do what I have done, which is to put off my studies until tomorrow while I spend today seeing to my affairs. For affairs are like wasps to the pollen of a man's time, a stinging swarm to which there is no end.”
*
“The day you can tell me what I am doing is the day I will tell you how I am doing it,' said Piero.
The way of the wise is to take short cuts to knowledge. The next time I saw the Bishop, I asked him what Piero could have meant.”
*
“To see only the good in a man is to see but a part of him. Surely we should confront reality and look it squarely in the eye?'
Ficino says that to dwell on the good is to give power to the good.”
*
“But hatred did not bound fatherless into creation; it cannot exist alone; hatred is the disfigured son of envy”
*
“If my heart broke at the sight of her, it was not the only one to do so. In its moment of breaking - and it is not the heart that breaks, but its shell - I felt at one with all those disparate fellows in the same condition.”
*
He was Youth, Virtue, Beauty personified.
Straight-backed, perfectly at ease on the high-stepping palfrey, he came slowly down the length of the piazza. Knowing him as a man who preferred solitude to public life, I was in awe of him now. Where any lesser man would have betrayed by a blush or a silly grin either embarrassment or pride, Giuliano, pale and composed, rested his eyes on the image of Minerva ahead and simply rode on. By this act, he honoured the occasion and everyone present.
We have a phrase in Italian: fare bella figura.
Some would say that to cut a fine figure is more important to an Italian than anything else in the universe, save perhaps avoiding damnation. It is possibly true. I notice, for instance, that the English spend more on their furniture than on their clothes, which is why I would rather be in one of their houses than out in their company.
Be that as it may, it would be wrong to suppose that Italians are more concerned with appearance than content. A true artist of la bella figura is in control of himself to the very marrow of his bones: every element of his body, mind and soul is engaged in fine deportment.”
*
“You were born under Cancer: the moon is your ruling planet, which is why you are a lunatic.
I had no doubt that Angelo's was the finer work.
It had that indefinable flash of spirit that we call
'genius'. Whatever such a thing is, it comes from the gods as a reward for the man who works for work's sake and for no personal gain. To work hard, spurred ever on by dissatisfaction with what has been achieved..”
*
“Over the years in the Medici household, my hand had developed in response to the needs of dictation; it had become, without my noticing it, careless and irregular. Though it might please an untutored eye, any fellow scribe would have dismissed it: the letters were badly spaced, ill-formed and finished with quick, thin strokes in the place of true serifs; a lazy hand by a scribe whose opinion of himself was greater than was warranted.
Humbled, I spent time refreshing my craft, for something once known is not necessarily known forever. The way of nature is a way of corruption and decay. Order is a divine force.”
*
“(Raffaello did everything) according to the rules, no matter how arbitrary and obstructive those rules might be. Thus, despite his talents and intelligence, he was destined to achieve little but local fame.
I listened to all his advice and took none.”
*
“..he suddenly asked, 'Do you believe in fate?'
Sometimes. It depends. I believe in fate when things go wrong; in my own capabilities when they go right.
Montesecco smiled and nodded. 'Honestly said and true enough. But do you believe in destiny?'
What is the difference?
'Fate is what happens to you: destiny is what you may fulfil. Fate like death is inevitable, but you can choose your destiny.'
Choose your destiny? Of course you cannot.
'Oh, but you can. Every now and then you have a sign of what lies ahead, and then you can choose whether to go towards it or not.”
*
“..their grief and outrage directed at heaven in a high-pitched keening. But I had no argument with God, only with men.”
April 2, 2023
Proud's admiration and understanding of the renaissance reminded of Renault and her love for classical Greece. Unfortunately love alone isn't enough to revive an era in historical fiction. Solid characterization and good prose were lacking. Her undercooked narrator/MC, Tommaso, was uninspiring, petulant, and dumb. It was utterly implausible to see the great men of renaissance take interest in someone so dull. I was dying to read about Lorenzo de Medici, but alas I was stuck inside this cardboard box called Tommaso and only got unsatisfying glimpses of Lorenzo.
April 28, 2014
I recently finished reading this trilogy as well as the prequel, A Gift for the Magus. The books are fascinating, very well researched, and I was absolutely living in 15th century Florence while reading them. Linda Proud is my new favorite author. I've read a lot of nonfiction and historical novels about Renaissance Italy and these have been absolutely the best of them. The author gets into the minds and hearts of the people of the Platonic Academy and provides a feast of food for thought.
Want to read
November 21, 2008Set in 1472-1478 and the Pazzi Conspiracy with the Medici Family.
Botticelli is a consistent thread in all three novels in this series. They titles are inspired by his mythological paintings: Primavera, Pallas and the Centaur, The Birth of Venus.
Botticelli is a consistent thread in all three novels in this series. They titles are inspired by his mythological paintings: Primavera, Pallas and the Centaur, The Birth of Venus.
April 30, 2014
Lengthy account of the transpirings of the Medici family through the eyes of a scribe of the family. I liked the voice of the author and only realized it when I started my next novel (whose voice I did not care for). I read it in anticipation of a trip to florence.
June 17, 2021
This book was altogether illuminating, entertaining, and masterful.
The one thing that I would declare that might be a negative to some, is that the story itself does not progress quickly. Personally, I understood the writer's motive behind why she wrote it in this way, and in fact, I found that the slow-progressing story allowed the characters to develop more deeply.
The story is told through the perspective of Tommaso de Maffei, who is a lesser member of a lesser house and holds little historical significance. However the character is far from boring, Tommaso is conflicted with divided loyalties and his development is intriguing, to say the least. I suspect most people would pick up this book to learn more about renaissance Florence and, in particular, Lorenzo de Medici. This book subtly educates the reader on the political situations of the time period and the contemporary ideas and philosophies of the renaissance. This all together creates the effect of the reader being transported into Florence through the eyes of Tommaso, which is something many historical writers struggle to achieve, but that Proud manages perfectly. Tommaso has numerous encounters with famous historical figures of the time period such as Angelo Poliziano, Lorenzo de Medici, Guiliano de Medici, Vespasiano, Leonardo de Vinci, and many more figures of cultural and political importance.
Another praise of this book is the abundance of wisdom that it possesses. After all, the renaissance was an era of reviving the ideas of Plato and ancient philosophers and would have certainly been empty without the myriad lessons that Tommaso is taught by 'the bishop' who is a fantastic character.
Altogether it can be said is much confidence that the writer certainly treasured this piece of work and is the product of years of development and refinement that has altogether made it a masterpiece and one of the best books I have ever read.
The one thing that I would declare that might be a negative to some, is that the story itself does not progress quickly. Personally, I understood the writer's motive behind why she wrote it in this way, and in fact, I found that the slow-progressing story allowed the characters to develop more deeply.
The story is told through the perspective of Tommaso de Maffei, who is a lesser member of a lesser house and holds little historical significance. However the character is far from boring, Tommaso is conflicted with divided loyalties and his development is intriguing, to say the least. I suspect most people would pick up this book to learn more about renaissance Florence and, in particular, Lorenzo de Medici. This book subtly educates the reader on the political situations of the time period and the contemporary ideas and philosophies of the renaissance. This all together creates the effect of the reader being transported into Florence through the eyes of Tommaso, which is something many historical writers struggle to achieve, but that Proud manages perfectly. Tommaso has numerous encounters with famous historical figures of the time period such as Angelo Poliziano, Lorenzo de Medici, Guiliano de Medici, Vespasiano, Leonardo de Vinci, and many more figures of cultural and political importance.
Another praise of this book is the abundance of wisdom that it possesses. After all, the renaissance was an era of reviving the ideas of Plato and ancient philosophers and would have certainly been empty without the myriad lessons that Tommaso is taught by 'the bishop' who is a fantastic character.
Altogether it can be said is much confidence that the writer certainly treasured this piece of work and is the product of years of development and refinement that has altogether made it a masterpiece and one of the best books I have ever read.
March 8, 2019
I loved this book, first of the Botticelli Trilogy. To find it was a dream as there is very little well written fiction on the Florentine Quattrocento.It is thoughtful, beautiful, respectful, well written and conceived, with depth of philosophical understanding and knowledge of the period. Some of the characters warmly engaged me like Tommaso's friend Angelo Poliziano,the famous humanist poet and close friend of Lorenzo de' Medici.I had never read a novel with Angelo as a character and I loved Linda Proud's endearing interpretation of him. Tommaso,the central character, impressed me less -perhaps because it is not easy for a woman author to write in the first person as a man. Some essence of Tommaso's virility was lacking ; he felt lukewarm and uncompelling unlike his brother the traitor Antonio dei Maffei. Thepassionate intensity of Antonio's feelings for his Etruscan hilltown, Volterra, and the motives that led him into the Pazzi conspiracy to kill Giuliano de'Medici were entirely convincing.
Linda Proud clearly loves her period and her characters and this makes the reading a moving experience. My only reservation with the whole trilogy is that the novels come over as a little dry and academic ,perhaps overpowering with their sheer weight of information and plot. More Italian colour and vivacity would have lifted the experience for me; Linda Proud paints a beautiful scene.But all in all a huge, inspiring achievement : books I get more from every time I read them.
Linda Proud clearly loves her period and her characters and this makes the reading a moving experience. My only reservation with the whole trilogy is that the novels come over as a little dry and academic ,perhaps overpowering with their sheer weight of information and plot. More Italian colour and vivacity would have lifted the experience for me; Linda Proud paints a beautiful scene.But all in all a huge, inspiring achievement : books I get more from every time I read them.
August 6, 2025
'Magnificent' is an understatement. What an achievement! If you appreciated Hilary Mantel’s Wolf Hall, you’ll love Linda Proud’s series set in C15th Tuscany. Her research is outstanding and her characters rich. What is particularly ‘Magnificent’, given the challenge, is Linda's ability to make the issues of the time both relatable and relevant to our time.
January 1, 2019
3.5 stars
March 17, 2019
This was a reread. A really beautiful interesting book following the young Tommaso de Maffei from the sack of Volterra to the Pazzi conspiracy to murder the Medicis. The first of a trilogy!
May 29, 2021
Good book.
July 22, 2021
This was a great book. The Medici's and Renaissance.
April 18, 2022
I liked volume one of this series, if anything, even more than volume 4. A novel about ideas and beauty that also has compelling characters and an immersive setting. Now to find volume 2…
January 4, 2015
Four-star for some historical uncertainly. I only have a general knowledge of this period, and relied heavily on the internet for reminding me of names and the details of events. It seems there are a few places the book and wiki/other libraries do not exactly compare. Of course, the inaccuracy of wiki articles is well-known, but the author also acknowledged some intentional deviations from historical events.
There are several places I like about this book.
(1) The language. It was quiet. When I read it I felt like relieved of the intractable worries and frustrations of daily life that who knows where they came from.
(2) The amount of details was amazing - parchment brands, for example, but also many other places... The book was comparable to a series of beautiful paintings of life at that time.
(3) This book was not written with a close-knitted plot and left many clues unexplained. For example, why the Germany duke commissioned a copy of the Metaphysics in such clandestine manner and who was he, who was the scribe writing in Poggio's hand that humbled the narrator? But once you got used to such a style, you started to admire how the author managed to present the events like a real person would perceive them. One does not always hear the inner voice of God at critical moments - on the other hand, grace might reveal itself in another way after grievous downturns; effect can be blown away from its cause by any small change of events; your inner feelings impair correct perception of your surroundings. I am not a big fan of first-person narrative, but the author used this mode to be an advantage.
(4) The pace was even. Even after the culmination of events, i.e. murder in Santa Reparata, the author took time to recount the aftermath with as much patience as in the beginning, till the narrator finally reached his fulfillment at the end of the book.
There are several places I like about this book.
(1) The language. It was quiet. When I read it I felt like relieved of the intractable worries and frustrations of daily life that who knows where they came from.
(2) The amount of details was amazing - parchment brands, for example, but also many other places... The book was comparable to a series of beautiful paintings of life at that time.
(3) This book was not written with a close-knitted plot and left many clues unexplained. For example, why the Germany duke commissioned a copy of the Metaphysics in such clandestine manner and who was he, who was the scribe writing in Poggio's hand that humbled the narrator? But once you got used to such a style, you started to admire how the author managed to present the events like a real person would perceive them. One does not always hear the inner voice of God at critical moments - on the other hand, grace might reveal itself in another way after grievous downturns; effect can be blown away from its cause by any small change of events; your inner feelings impair correct perception of your surroundings. I am not a big fan of first-person narrative, but the author used this mode to be an advantage.
(4) The pace was even. Even after the culmination of events, i.e. murder in Santa Reparata, the author took time to recount the aftermath with as much patience as in the beginning, till the narrator finally reached his fulfillment at the end of the book.
August 20, 2014
The novel puts the reader in the period and guides the reader through interesting times and challenging ideas. The story, as told by Tommaso de' Maffei, is suitable for young adult readers as well as adult readers. A Tabernacle for the Sun is a wonderful book for those who wish to learn more about the fascinating time of the Italian Renaissance, and for those who wish their knowledge of that time to be placed in a novel setting, bringing it to life. If you know the history, don't expect surprises, but do expect to see it through new eyes.
For the full and illustrated review visit Italophile Book Reviews at
http://italophilebookreviews.blogspot...
For the full and illustrated review visit Italophile Book Reviews at
http://italophilebookreviews.blogspot...
December 10, 2015
My favorite of Linda Proud's novels. Although all are good. I loved the way this story was told. The narrator is a 12 year old boy who grows up during the story, surrounded by the great men of the Florentine Renaissance, but never quite fits in. I am on the third book in the series and intend to read all the books by this author. I am a huge Renaissance/Botticelli fan, and even though Botticelli is a character that is really on the outskirts of the action, this is my favorite book of this genre. (And trust me, I have read them all!) This book is a well researched masterpiece told from the respective of a great character.
June 19, 2015
An excellent introduction to the late 15th century in Italy and the Humanist movement of the time, especially the Florence of the young Lorenzo de' Medici, told through the eyes of a young man who becomes a scribe, and eventually a neoPlatonist himself. Extremely well written and keeps the reader's interest throughout. Deeply researched and true to events as recorded, except for a few details relating to fictional characters.
May 19, 2024
So well crafted - I was drawn back to another time, and way of thinking and living. My philosophical world grew as I got to know Tommaso de' Maffei and followed his development from naive youth to wise adult. The world and art of Renaissance Florence and the Medici were cleverly woven into the plot. Didn't want the book to end and felt that I can learn a lot for how to live my 21st C life!
Want to read
March 24, 2015Renaissance, Florence. Library does not have.
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October 11, 2015An exceptional historical novel of Renaissance Florence!
January 28, 2017
THE TABERNACLE FOR THE SUN, Linda Proud. ITALY, Firenze, 1476-78 Renaissance.
Book 1 of the Botticelli Triology, an orphan is inspired by Bishop Agli's teachings to live his life with an appreciation for the harmony of nature, perspective, proportion, and forgiveness. He participates in the creative Firenze when Botticelli had a studio, Leonardo learned under Verrochio, and the art of the scribe and illuminator was at its peak. It was a time of turmoil too while the jealous city states vied with one another for power. The Pazzi conspiracy threatens to u seat Lorenzo de Medici, Il Magnifico. Historical fiction at its best, well researched and beautifully written!
Book 1 of the Botticelli Triology, an orphan is inspired by Bishop Agli's teachings to live his life with an appreciation for the harmony of nature, perspective, proportion, and forgiveness. He participates in the creative Firenze when Botticelli had a studio, Leonardo learned under Verrochio, and the art of the scribe and illuminator was at its peak. It was a time of turmoil too while the jealous city states vied with one another for power. The Pazzi conspiracy threatens to u seat Lorenzo de Medici, Il Magnifico. Historical fiction at its best, well researched and beautifully written!
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