{"product_id":"costanza-by-rachel-blackmore-9780349131122","title":"Costanza","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e'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' \u003ci\u003eSUNDAY TIMES\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eRome, 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eTheir 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWhen 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBetrayed. 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...\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eHistory calls her a Muse. Temptress. Fallen woman. This is \u003ci\u003eher\u003c\/i\u003e story. Based on a true story, \u003ci\u003eCostanza\u003c\/i\u003e brings to life a feminist icon who has been written out of history. Perfect for fans of \u003ci\u003eThe Marriage Portrait\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eThe Miniaturist.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e'Emotionally intense' \u003cb\u003eDAILY MAIL\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e'Stunning' \u003cb\u003eJENNIE GODFREY\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e'This novel took over my life' \u003cb\u003ePATERSON JOSEPH\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e'I loved it' \u003cb\u003eELIZABETH CHADWICK\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e'This has to be my book of the year!' \u003cb\u003eSHEILA O'FLANAGAN\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e'A revelation' \u003cb\u003eELLEN ALPSTEN\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Hachette Aotearoa New Zealand","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47340699255020,"sku":"9780349131122","price":27.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/7764743482312.jpg?v=1772165911","url":"https:\/\/bookhero.co.nz\/products\/costanza-by-rachel-blackmore-9780349131122","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}