A Golden Web [Hardcover]

Barbara Quick (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 6, 2010

Alessandra is desperate to escape.

Desperate to escape her stepmother, who's locked her away for a year; to escape the cloister that awaits her and the marriage plans that have been made for her; to escape the expectations that limit her and every other girl in fourteenth-century Italy. There's no tolerance in her quiet village for Alessandra and her keen intelligence and unconventional ideas.

In defiant pursuit of her dreams, Alessandra undertakes an audacious quest, her bravery equaled only by the dangers she faces. Disguised and alone in a city of spies and scholars, Alessandra will find a love she could not foresee -- and an enduring fame.

In this exquisite imagining of the centuries-old story of Alessandra Giliani, the world's first female anatomist, acclaimed novelist Barbara Quick gives readers the drama, romance, and rich historical detail for which she is known as she shines a light on an unforgotten -- and unforgettable -- heroine.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 6 Up—By age 12, Alessandra Giliani has learned that "half the trick of being a smart girl is learning how to hide it," for fear of being branded a witch. Set in 14th-century Italy, A Golden Web follows her as she ditches the trappings of her wealthy family and retires to a convent to avoid marriage at age 15. Alessandra has a love of science and finds herself "excited by things that no girl has the right or need to know." With the help of her older brother, she leaves the convent disguised as Sandro, a young medical student, and engages in the fledgling study of anatomy in Bologna. Sandro is quickly seen as a brilliant student, and she becomes a prosector. After overcoming her initial squeamishness, she devotes herself to dissection and the study of the human body, not only with the close observance of corpses, but also by reading the few available books and venturing into the midwives' district to learn from the "women healers" as well. Sandro's secret is threatened by a jealous student, and again when a study partner stirs romantic feelings, and the ending is not one of happily ever after. At times focused on historical detail, at others resembling a toned-down bodice ripper, this novel is a quick read for those who like romantic fiction.—Maggie Knapp, Trinity Valley School, Fort Worth, TX
(c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

From Booklist

Being female in fourteenth-century Italy is difficult, but for brilliant Alessandra Giliani, it is especially frustrating. As a child, she learns to disguise herself as a boy to ride and hunt. As a young adult, she flees to Bologna to escape her stepmother and an arranged marriage, and in her male disguise, she studies to become a medico, a dangerous ruse that becomes even more perilous when she falls in love with a fellow student. In her first YA novel, adult author Quick explores women's issues at a time when most girls were denied basic literacy, much less the training to become a physician. Although much of Alessandra's good fortune feels too coincidental to be easily believed, Quick has crafted an absorbing story about a delightful, courageous, intelligent young woman determined to make a difference in a time when women could be burned for societal rebellion far less dramatic than acquiring an education. Whether or not Alessandra actually existed (it is debatable), her story provides an entertaining platform for a discussion of women's history. Grades 7-10. --Frances Bradburn

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 13 and up
  
• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: HarperTeen (April 6, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061448877
• ISBN-13: 978-0061448874
• Product Dimensions: 7.3 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,623,304 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I wouldn't trade my job as a novelist for any other job in the world. Writing is a refuge for me--a secret garden, a doorway into other lives, an occasion for expanding on the truth and getting paid for it (once every couple of years, at least).

One life has never seemed like enough to me (maybe because I'm a Gemini?). Short of immortality or schizophrenia, fiction seemed to me to be the closest I could get to experiencing many lives from the inside-out.

My books have also brought me into contact with people from all over the world I would never have met otherwise (including, most lately, my fiance!). I can only hope that readers will begin to understand how important they are to writers--and to literature itself! Buying books is an act of cultural affirmation. Literature--and writers--will perish without readers who are committed to buying, reading, and talking about books.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring historical fiction about a girl who would not give up her dreams., April 8, 2010

By 

Rebecca Herman (USA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Golden Web (Hardcover)

Alessandra Giliani is not like most girls in fourteenth century Italy. She is very intelligent and loves to read, even dreaming of someday being a scholar. But because she doesn't behave as a proper lady should, her stepmother dislikes her, and is unkind to her. Alessandra would like to study medicine, but that is not proper for a young girl of her place and time. The only proper choices for a young woman are an arranged marriage or life in a convent.

When Alessandra learns that her stepmother, in her eagerness to get Alessandra out of the family's home, has convinced her father to arrange Alessandra's marriage, she is desperate to escape. Before her marriage, Alessandra goes to spend a time of solitude in a convent, and from there she is able to escape, disguise herself as a boy, and fulfill her dreams of studying medicine. However the future her father planned for her still awaits her someday and she may not be able to keep up her disguise forever.

A Golden Web is a fascinating and romantic historical novel based on the legend of Alessandra Giliani, who may have been the world's first female anatomist. Barbara Quick brings Alessandra to life as a smart and courageous young woman who risks everything to live her dreams in a time when women had few rights and no power to decide their own futures. Highly recommended for readers who love historical fiction.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderfully told story of a young girl pursuing an unlikely dream, April 6, 2010

By 

Story Circle Book Reviews - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Golden Web (Hardcover)

A Golden Web tells the inspiring story of Alessandra Giliani, a 14th Century Italian girl reputed to be the first female anatomist. Alessandra, like many young girls of her time, is expected to obey her elders, act a certain way, and submit to an advantageous marriage arranged by her family. Unlike her contemporaries, she has a keen intellect, curious mind, and fiery spirit. She recognizes the gift inherent in her intelligence and yearns to do more with her life than is expected of her.

Although Alessandra is surrounded by a doting father and loving siblings, her stepmother arranges to send her away to a convent for a year prior to her marriage. Alessandra manages to escape the convent and sets out on a daring adventure--pursuing her dream to become a scholar of medicine. Her path is filled with intrigue and danger, for during her time a woman who dares too much is often persecuted as a witch.

Barbara Quick has woven a wonderfully engaging imagining of Alessandra's life and times. The characters are rich and the settings beautifully detailed. I found myself immersed in Alessandra's world, eagerly anticipating how her story would unfold. Quick has created a lovely story that will inspire young and old women alike to pursue their dreams unapologetically.

by Becca Taylor
for Story Circle Book Reviews
reviewing books by, for, and about women

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An impressive and utterly brilliant work of historical literature!, April 6, 2010

By 

The Book Pixie (Georgia, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Golden Web (Hardcover)

A Golden Web is the imaginative, captivating, and unforgettable debut novel for young adults from established historical fiction author, Barbara Quick.

Alessandra is a girl full of intelligence, curiosity, and determination, characteristics unheard of in a girl of her era. She dreads being married and yearns to study medicine at the University, but to do so would provoke the accusations of being a witch. Alessandra was such a strong and brave heroine that it was impossible for me to not fall in love with her character. As mentioned in the Author's Notes, whether or not Alessandra was an actual person is a highly debatable topic. I must say though, after reading A Golden Web, I can't help but hope that such an admirable young lady really did exist. If modern 'role models' were more like her, the world would be such a better place.

The other characters weren't quite as thoroughly developed as Alessandra but for some reason this didn't bother me and it actually seemed to work. At times the relationship between Alessandra and Otto seemed to advance to quickly but then I would remember that this book spans over approximately seven years.

A Golden Web was rich in historical detail, helping to form a vivid image of the setting in my mind. To me it seemed to read like an older, classic work of literature in both context and dialogue. This made it clear that Quick had done her research, an aspect that I loved about this book for its added authenticity to the story. Though it took a few pages to get used to the way this book was written, once I did I found myself sucked into Alessandra's life to the point of no return, leaving me completely compelled to keep the pages turning.

The ending, I'll confess, threw me for a bit of a loop. However it was very realistic and I applaud Quick for giving this book the ending that she did. I loved reading the insightful Author's Notes included at the end.

A Golden Web is an impressive and utterly brilliant work of historical literature that should not be missed! Whether you are in middle school, high school, or are an adult, I highly recommend this book to you.