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    I, Mona Lisa
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    I, Mona Lisa
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    I, Mona Lisa
    Ebook619 pages11 hours

    I, Mona Lisa

    By Jeanne Kalogridis

    4.5/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this ebook

    "My name is Lisa di Antonio Gherardini Giocondo, though to acquaintances, I am known simply as Madonna Lisa. My story begins not with my birth but a murder, committed the year before I was born…"

    Florence, April 1478: The handsome Giuliano de' Medici is brutally assassinated in Florence's magnificent Duomo. The shock of the murder ripples throughout the great city, from the most renowned artists like Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo, to a wealthy wool merchant and his extraordinarily beautiful daughter, Madonna Lisa.

    More than a decade later, Florence falls under the dark spell of the preacher Savonarola, a fanatic who burns paintings and books as easily as he sends men to their deaths. Lisa, now grown into an alluring woman, captures the heart of Giuliano's nephew and namesake. But when Guiliano, her love, meets a tragic end, Lisa must gather all her courage and cunning to untangle a sinister web of illicit love, treachery, and dangerous secrets that threatens her life.

    Set against the drama of 15th Century Florence, I, Mona Lisa is painted in many layers of fact and fiction, with each intricately drawn twist told through the captivating voice of Mona Lisa herself.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherMacmillan Publishers
    Release dateApr 1, 2007
    ISBN9781429906029
    Unavailable
    I, Mona Lisa
    Author

    Jeanne Kalogridis

    Jeanne Kalogridis was born in Florida in 1954. She earned a BA in Russian and an MA in Linguistics from the University of South Florida and went on to teach English as a Second Language at the American University in Washington, D.C. She now lives with her partner on the West Coast of the US, sharing a house with two dogs and a bird. Her interests include yoga, Tibatan Buddhism, the occult, languages, art, and reading everything ever published.

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    Reviews for I, Mona Lisa

    4.5/5

    20 ratings14 reviews

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    • 4/5
      entertaining.
    • 4/5
      I loved this book. As another reader states it does give a plausible account of the painting of the Mona Lisa and more importantly a view of the Medici family in Florence at the time. As I intend to visit that city in the near future the are a few place I would like to visit as a result of reading "I, Mona Lisa." My 4 star rating may be stretching it a bit but not by much. Definitely worth a read.
    • 5/5
      I am not an art historian, but it seems that the is some consensus that the subject of the painting we know as the Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci is in fact Lisa Gherardini. Some things are known about her, but not much. However, these things are woven into the history of Florence, particularly around the time of Lorenzo da Medici and his sons. It's a great story, most unlikely, but still very entertaining. At the start of the book one may become a bit overwhelmed by names; it may be worthwhile beforehand to read a summary of the history of Florence at this time, especially the plotting of the Pazzi and their instrument, Savonarola, against the Medici in the late 1400s. The author sits to the facts quite closely, not like the screen writers of the recent TV series The Medicis.
    • 5/5
      This is one of the best books I've read in a long time. I was really drawn into the story and felt compassion for the characters.
    • 5/5
      This was a great holiday read - full of intrigue, mystery and betrayal. While it may not be historically correct, I enjoyed the story that Kalogridise developed to show how the painting of Mona Lisa came into being. Looking forward to reading other books by this author.
    • 5/5
      This is a large book, but compelling enough to make the pages fly. Set during the renaissance in Florence, it follows the conflict between the family of Lorenzo Medici and the Pazzi family which used Savonarola as a weapon against them.
    • 3/5
      I, Mona Lisa is another breathtaking, fabulous historical novel by Jeanne Kalogridis. Bringing a keen eye for detail and a marvelous pen to Renaissance Italy, Kalogridis weaves a compelling tale of jealousy, passion, secrets, lies and power where she attempts to unravel the strange secrets behind Leondardo di Vinci's most famous piece of art.I, Mona Lisa follows the life of Italian noblewoman Lisa, the subject of de Vinci's Mona Lisa through the tumultuous changes in Italy and the fall of the powerful Medici family. After Lisa's mother dies, she knows life won't ever be the same. Around the same time she meets Giuliano de Medici, and the pair fall in love. Despite her's father's warnings and the growing political undercurrents against the Medicis, Lisa marries Guiliano. After his sudden death, Lisa is swept up into the political intrigue and delicately woven plots among the Italian nobility and learns a dark, yet shocking secret about her family.Written in a clear and passionate voice, I, Mona Lisa a thrilling, well-written picture of the past that keeps readers flipping pages (really, don't let the thickness fool you). This novel gave an interesting spin on a unique approach to the time and its happenings. I particularly enjoyed Kalogridis' depiction of the 15th century, it felt incredibly real and served as the perfect setting for this well-crafted and compelling tale.
    • 4/5
      Although not the highest caliber of writing, it had a good story. It was much like Tracy Chevalier's "Girl With a Pearl Earring" in the aspect that both authors created stories from paintings that portray women with (until now ^_^) unknown backgrounds
    • 5/5
      What a great book! The author bring Renaissance Florence to life. The story follows Lisa di Antonio Gherardini as she is caught in a spiral of deceit, love, and murder. Thirteen years before her birth, Giuliano de Medici is assassinated in an attempt to overthrow the Medici power. His brother Lorenzo survives and takes revenge. Upon his death, many years later a fanatic preacher gains popularity and wants to destroy all items that display wealth. Florence and Lisa's family are threatened. The story is riveting and I could hardly put it down! The history appears factual and feels as if you are in 15th century Florence. The story puts an interesting twist on the famous face painted by Leonardo da Vinci. Recommended! 4 1/2 stars
    • 5/5
      Love & Loss: The Life of Leonardo’s Lisa Jeanne Kalogridis' historical fiction masterpiece, I, Mona Lisa, presents in entirety an aura of elegance most intriguing. One minute glimmering with the opulence of Renaissance Florence, the next dripping with the bloodshed of war and personal vendettas. There is no question that the author is one of the finest writers of period literature, leaving no minute detail out. Her pen flourishes as she lavishly paints a very realistic portrait of Florence Italy in it's prime. Not much is actually known of Lisa di Antonio Gherardini, the young and enchanting woman Leonardo da Vinci chose as his model for the Mona Lisa. With that fact Jeanne Kalogridis could indulge in free liberty, giving herself reign to create a character so believable that when you turn the last page, you will feel the author has written a biography. Her Mona Lisa becomes a heroine you will never be able to forget. At a little over 500 pages the reader immediately becomes immersed in the grandiose city of Florence; it's grand architecture, glorious costumes, and many talented artisans that built magnificent cathedrals, carved life-like marble statues, toiled brushstroke after brushstroke over paintings that graced every church and affluent Florentine home. Readers will revel in the art worlds of Michaelangelo, Botticelli, and of course this story's hero, talented and sweet, Leonardo da Vinci, whom you will see in a different light than you've ever seen him before. Our smiling Lisa is a young girl when we open the first page. She is the daughter of a wool merchant and a captivating mother who had once caught the eye of Giuliano de Medici, brother of the elite Lorenzo, known as Il Magnifico. Before long Lisa's world is catapulted into many woven tangled webs that include death and deceit, murder and betrayal, love and passion, and mysteries that will take her many years to unravel. She is swept up into the decadent lives of the de Medici family and is taken under their wing, her a mere peasant, mysteriously loved and protected by one the most wealthiest families in Italy. A family of power who one minute relishes in their ability to bring art and culture to their city, yet in another can order a swift slice of a sword that can bring destruction and death without remorse. Lisa learns she has a part to play in their chaotic political games and discovers she may not be who she thought she was. In fact a major part of this riveting tale is the puzzle of who her true father is. Baited, deceived and used as an instrument for religious and politic gain, Lisa time and time again proves to the world she is clever and can match her tormentors eye for eye and come out winning, each and every time they bring her down. Throughout this marvelous novel, Lisa is tested for her strength and perseverance during many difficult scenarios that bring her love and loss many times over. She learns that all is not always as it seems, and that the ones you love and trust the most, can be the cause of your downfall and destruction, while others you believe are perfect strangers can be secret allies deviously plotting for your success. There is a tiny bit of predictability as the reader can imagine how it will all end but for 90% of this lengthy novel you will totally be enraptured and captivated as the author navigates you into world of Renaissance Italy. I can find no fault with this book and can not give it any higher stars than I am allowed. Standing ovation, for historical fiction this is exquisite!
    • 5/5
      Awesome book! I love the time period!
    • 2/5
      Historical Fiction told through the eyes of Mona Lisa. An easy read but very predictible. Often found myself comparing it to The Da Vinci Code. Although it contains elements of romance and mystery.. there were no surprises.
    • 5/5
      I learned so much from this work of historical fiction! What an amazing story. Lisa di Antonio Gherardini was a very sympathetic character. Granted it was a ficitonalized account of 15th century Florence, it really came alive. It was believable and well constructed. I thought the ending was a bit too easy, but satisfying.
    • 5/5
      Entertaining, meaning not very deep, but enjoyable. I didn’t want to put it down.