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Article: Books: Revealed: the making of a mistresspiece The broadcaster and critic Sarah Dunant has written eight thrillers. Her new novel, `The Birth of Venus', is set in renaissance Florence. Michele Roberts's 12th novel, `The Mistressclass', out in April, is a study of rivalry between two sisters, set in the present, the 1970s and the time of Charlotte Bronte. They talked to Suzi Feay about feminism, female creativity and God
- Article from:
- The Independent on Sunday (London, England)
- Article date:
- March 9, 2003
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright 2003 The Independent on Sunday. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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The Birth of Venus
By Sarah Dunant
LITTLE, BROWN pounds 12.99
pounds 11.99 (+ pounds 1.99 P&P PER ORDER) 0870 800 1122
The novel opens in late 1528, with the agonising death of the
pious nun, Sister Lucrezia, in her convent. Lucrezia was rumoured to
have had a racy life before devoting what was left of it to God; but
nothing prepares the nuns for the condition of her dead body. Not
only was the tumour she died of apparently a fake, but undulating
down her belly is the mark of Satan: a painted snake whose head and
flickering tongue is poised as if to dive between her legs.
Abruptly, we scroll back to the 1490s to meet 14-year-old
Alessandra, a wealthy Florentine merchant's daughter. She ...