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The Marriage Portrait

the Instant Sunday Times Bestseller, Shortlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction 2023
By Maggie O'Farrell
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Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O'Farrell is a captivating historical novel set in Renaissance Italy. It follows Lucrezia de' Medici, a young woman navigating the complexities of political alliances and personal relationships through an arranged marriage. The narrative delves into her inner world and the challenges she faces as she strives to assert her identity and defy the constraints placed upon her.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might like this book if you enjoy beautifully crafted historical fiction and rich storytelling that delves into the complexities of family dynamics, artistry, and the inner workings of a young woman's life during the Italian Renaissance. Maggie O'Farrell's vivid prose and deeply immersive narrative make it a captivating read for those interested in exploring historical settings with emotional depth and intrigue.

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Set at the heart of the treacherous political world of the Italian Renaissance, this is the masterful story of a young woman's battle for her very survival, written with all the drama and verve that made HAMNET an international bestseller.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description
The instant Sunday Times bestseller from the acclaimed author of Hamnet, The Marriage Portrait is a dazzling evocation of the Italian Renaissance in all its beauty and brutality.

Winter, 1561. Lucrezia, Duchess of Ferrara, is taken on an unexpected visit to a country villa by her husband, Alfonso. As they sit down to dinner, it occurs to Lucrezia that Alfonso has a sinister purpose in bringing her here. He intends to kill her.

Lucrezia is sixteen years old, and has led a sheltered life locked away inside Florence's grandest palazzo. Here, in this remote villa, she is entirely at the mercy of her increasingly erratic husband.

What is Lucrezia to do with this sudden knowledge? What chance does she have against Alfonso, ruler of a province, and a trained soldier? How can she ensure her survival?

The Marriage Portrait is an unforgettable reimagining of the life of a young woman whose proximity to power places her in mortal danger.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O'Farrell is highly praised for its evocative and spellbinding writing, reminiscent of her previous work, Hamnet. Reviewers admire her vivid depictions of 16th-century Italy and her exploration of themes such as women's captivity and rebellion. The novel is acclaimed for its immersive, finely written narrative that makes historical details come alive, and O'Farrell is celebrated as an extraordinary and inventive storyteller.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781472223883

Publisher: Headline Publishing Group

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 06 July 2023

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Tinder Press

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 42.0mm

Width: 128.0mm

Height: 196.0mm

Weight: 400g

Pages: 448

Collections

2026 Auckland Writers Festival Arts & Culture Festival Fiction Fiction General Fiction Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Maggie O'Farrell

About the Author

Maggie O'Farrell is the author of HAMNET, Winner of the Women's Prize for Fiction 2020, and the memoir I AM, I AM, I AM, both Sunday Times no. 1 bestsellers. Her novels include AFTER YOU'D GONE, MY LOVER'S LOVER, THE DISTANCE BETWEEN US, which won a Somerset Maugham Award, THE VANISHING ACT OF ESME LENNOX, THE HAND THAT FIRST HELD MINE, which won the 2010 Costa Novel Award, INSTRUCTIONS FOR A HEATWAVE, THIS MUST BE THE PLACE and THE MARRIAGE PORTRAIT, which was shortlisted for the Women's Prize. She is also the author of three books for children, WHERE SNOW ANGELS GO, THE BOY WHO LOST HIS SPARK and WHEN THE STAMMER CAME TO STAY. She lives in Edinburgh.

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