Library Column in the SBC News

Hi all,

Some have expressed interest in having a book recommendation in the student newspaper.
Here is what will be the first one. Rachel Reynolds '07 is the new editor and welcomes
these. They should be between 250 and 300 words and include the call number as well as
the bibliographic info. Please take a look at this draft and give suggestions. I'd also
like to know who wants to be next. Lisa

Dunant, Sarah. The Birth of Venus. New York: Random House, 2004.

Cochran Library PR6054 .U45756 B58 2004

Art, love, betrayal, mystery, strong determined women characters and the 15th century
city of Florence make Sarah Dunant’s novel irresistible. The Birth of Venus weaves
turbulent Florentine history at the time of the all-powerful Medici rule with the coming
of age story of 14-year-old Alessandra Cecchi. Florence is under the grip of plague, the
threat of invasion, a local serial killer roaming the streets, and the evil righteousness
of fundamentalist monk Savonarola. Seamlessly blending history and fiction, we are drawn
into the lives of the Cecchi family. Alessandra wants to defy convention, refuse an
arranged marriage and become a painter. Her sister, Plautilla’s only desire is to marry
well. Their mother tries to encourage, yet temper the plans of her unconventional
daughter who cannot sing or dance, but can translate Latin and Greek texts faster than
her brothers can read it. Alessandra's story, though central, is only one part of this
multi-faceted and complex historical novel. I should not give away any more of the
complex plot. This is of special interest to art history, Italian and history majors.
Though this novel is not a substitute, it does discuss artists and the techniques of the
time in a more amusing way than Vasari’s Lives of the Artists, and would make excellent
supplementary reading. I hope to see many members of the Sweet Briar community fighting
over this novel in the near future. We also have this title in the audio book edition.

Lisa N. Johnston
Associate Director
Sweet Briar College Library