( 5 reviews )
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( 0 of 1 found this review helpful ) Posted: May 16 2007
I was hoping to find out about the remarkable life of Veronica Franco but instead was pummeled with quotes, references, repetition, and a string of Italian phrases. There's no doubt that this book is Rosenthal's dissertation. Hopefully one day it will be edited and condensed to 1/5 of its size.
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( 10 of 17 found this review helpful ) Posted: Nov 27 2005
Unfortunately I bought this book hoping that it would uncover more historical data and the actual works of Veronica Franco translated by a scholar in the field. That was not the case. The author used her college dissertation to make a book on a very important aspect of history when her dissertation would have been best served if it stayed at her college. The author takes liberty to interpret Ms. Franco's works and for the reader it is a logistical nightmare. She first gives her statement as if fact at times which makes the facts (Veronica's actual works) seem secondary. Then she would have the Italian verse, followed by a translation. Wow! do I feel very side tracked here. I wouldn't even accept this for a dissertation! Sorry, it doesn't work out in terms of literary flow, factual data or interesting storyline.
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( 14 of 16 found this review helpful ) Posted: Jul 11 2005
After seeing "Dangerous Beauty" I became curious about the distinctive life style of Renaissance Venice, and hoped to learn a lot more. This book was just a bit too dry and scholarly for casual reading. A great deal of space is used for both the Italian and English translations, which must be interesting to some readers. Although Veronica comes across as intelligent, determined and brave, I would have wished to know more about her and her society in terms of food, clothing, houses, daily activities, etc. Perhaps not enough is known about Veronica herself, but I would hope that a gifted author somewhere could make her story into a novel and breathe some warmth and life into her legend.
