Customer Reviews

The Master of Verona

5 star:		(37)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

When I started The Master of Verona, I had no intention of reading a 560 page book in three days. I had other things to do.

I read the book instead.

The book's scope of topics is as broad and intricate as a medieval tapestry; just when you think you've seen it all, Blixt draws your eye to a new detail as compelling as the last. There's Pietro, son of Dante, learning to become a knight under the shadow of his famous father. There's medieval Italian politics as vicious as anything you see on The Sopranos. There's great female characters like Antonia Alighieri and Katerina Della Scala using words as devastatingly as the men use swords. There's the historical figure of Cangrande attacking a neighboring city in a battle sequence as vivid as those you find in Bernard Cornwell's Sharpe books. There's a horse race that makes a NASCAR crash look tepid and a duel that only a writer who's also a fight choreographer and swordsman himself could write. Blixt also throws in a mysterious child, assassination attempts, oracular prophecies, and a villain as curiously loathsome as one from Dickens or Dumas. All of this should collapse into an unreadable mess, but Blixt's well-honed prose, characters, and narrative line turned it instead into my favorite beach book of summer 2007. Oh, and if that weren't good enough, throughout the book, you come to empathize with the fathers of both Romeo and Juliet and watch as their friendship turns to hate. I can't wait for his next book.

This book has it all: adventure, intrigue, drama, duels, battles, and a little sex thrown in for good measure. And the characterizations are extraordinary. If Mr. Blixt had not done such an amazing job building such complete, three-dimensional characters, it would be hard to believe that such intriguing figures as Cangrande, his sister Katerina or the fascinating Antonia Alaghieri actually existed. As a bonus, the narrative is liberally peppered with appearances by some of William Shakespeare's most famous Italian characters, and we see how the turmoil of northern Italy at the beginning of the Renaissance led to the famous feud at the heart of "Romeo and Juliet."

One aspect that I particularly enjoyed was the characters' various dispositions on astrology, which plays a central role in the novel. Given the time period, it is fascinating to watch as a culture begins to shrug off the mysticism of its past.

It is a wonder that more books don't employ the setting and characters of David Blixt's debut novel. Between the people and locales which inspired the works of William Shakespeare and the historical personages of Dante and Cangrande della Scala, I am amazed that more writers have not mined this period more thoroughly. That said, I wonder if there are very many who could do it better than "Master of Verona."

David Blixt's first novel, Master of Verona, keeps you rivetted with amazing action sequences, intricately crafted characters, and wonderfully refined details into a world I'd never known. And to top it off he combines the story of the Greyhound (who I never knew was such a fascinating character of history till this book) and Dante's son, all the while interweaving Shakespearean story lines that make you smile every time you see one. It's such a great read for anyone into history, Shakespeare, or just wanting to read a fantastic story. Can't wait till the next one!!!

Have you ever wondered why the Montagues and Capulets of Romeo and Juliet began their famous feud? David Blixt has, and in answer, he gives us The Master of Verona.

Yet, The Master of Verona isn't so much about the feud (though it is in there) as it is about Congrand della Scala. Told through the perspective of Pietro Alagheri, son of Dante (The Inferno), we catch a slice of Veronese life on the brink of Renaissance.

The cast of characters is enormous (and, thankfully, it is provided at the beginning of the book). Fictional characters intermingle with historical figures as well as Shakespearian figures. They all have names like Gargano Montecchio and Marsilio Da Carrara, and if it isn't enough that most of the names sound like someone else's, they all have nicknames as well. All that is said to say that to read this book is a commitment. But if you'll hang in there for a few chapters (and refer regularly to the cast), it will be worth it.

I am rather unfamiliar with this time period, so I can't be certain, but this novel seems very well researched and accurate to the times. Even the author will tell you that he potentially took some liberties with the life of Dante and the work of Shakespeare, though not direct contradictions to historical record.

I found this to be a highly engaging and exceptional story. It took a good bit for me to get into it and keep track of the characters, but once I did, it was thoroughly enjoyable. It is an intimidating work. But even if you aren't familiar with the period, their weapons, their manners and their customs, you will be before you are finished.

Armchair Interviews says: This read is well worth the effort.

Shakespeare, Dante, Italian history, romance, and astrology all wrapped up in an action packed adventure, stepping into the world of The Master of Verona is like getting on board a roller-coaster that never slows or lags. This is one of those rare books that is both a fabulous beach read and a great piece of literature. The historical detail is astonishing, while the references to Shakespeare's characters are both fun and informative. I can't wait to see how this story unfolds as it winds its way to the inevitable tragic ending of Romeo and Juliet!

David Blixt bursts onto the historical fiction scene with this masterful tale of adventure, love, and intrigue. From the framework of 14th century Italian history, with a pinch of Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet" and a sly wit worthy of Dante, Blixt conjures up the world of Italy's embattled city states, weaving in the stuff of legends as well as the perils of illicit passion. Told mainly through the voice of Pietro, eldest son of the poet Dante, a young man whose need to step out from under his illustrious father's shadow sweeps him up into the exploits and schemes of Verona's warrior duke, MASTER OF VERONA features a cast of characters true to their time, who often hide deadly secrets behind their glamour. A child who may be a savior or a curse; a youth who learns not to trust; and siblings who struggle over the fate of their city, not to mention the seeds of perhaps the most famous love affair in literature -- this is high adventure at its best, an epic novel filled with the breathtaking feats and evanescent beauty of the early Renaissance.

This book is a masterpiece. To call it a mere historical novel is like calling the Iliad or the Divine Comedy adventure stories. They're that-- and a great deal more. So is this book. It interweaves historical characters with characters from Shakespeare (some of whom were also real people) and still others from the author's own imagination.

The period detail is superb, the dialogue sparkles; the personalities of the main characters are subtle and complex; the action sequences stunning in their vividness and realism.

Even the minor players are intriguing, and the reader comes to care about their fates as well. I found myself rooting for the bluff and decent Bailardino Nogarola (a historical figure), and feeling a grudging respect for the cynical, hardbitten, but at heart ethical warrior, Asdente, a fictional creation who bears the name of a character from Dante's "Inferno."

Towering over all the other characters, though, is the master of Verona himself: Cangrande della Scala. Blixt's portrait of this larger-than-life historical figure is brilliant and unforgettable. He's the linch-pin of the story-- a medieval Julius Caesar at once utterly charming and totally devious, who embodies a fascinating combination of nobility, ruthlessness and steely authority.

The author also touches on an area ignored by historians: who were the mothers of the numerous out-of-wedlock children fathered by Cangrande? We get a glimpse of the anguish of one such woman-- clearly not a peasant or a prostitute, but a woman of some social standing-- as Cangrande (whose marriage was childless) coldly claims the son he fathered with her and takes the child away to be raised as his heir. The author offers an explanation when he mentions later in the book how certain men eagerly pimped their wives and daughters to Cangrande in exchange for a piece of property or an advantageous business deal. You don't find this kind of insight in the average historical novel.

Another excellent feature of this novel is that the author
clearly defines for us what is fact and what is fiction. His list of characters at the beginning indicates which are historical figures, which are from Shakespeare, and which ones are fictional creations. There's also a useful Afterword where the author cites his sources, separates the factual and fictional aspects of his story, and defends (very successfully, I think) his decision to mix the two in his narrative.

In my review title, I suggest that readers bring at least a little knowledge of Shakespeare's Italian plays to their reading of this book. Oh, you don't HAVE to, but it's fun to spot characters and phrases from those plays scattered throughout the text. Of course there's the obvious Romeo and Juliet "back-story," but there are a lot of other Shakespearean bits. It doesn't hurt to know some Dante, as well, although no knowledge of either poet is required in order to enjoy the book.

More than merely interesting, this work is absolutely mesmerizing, and is an even more amazing achievement when you find out it's the author's first novel. Despite its length I finished it in a couple of days and was sorry when it ended. I'll look forward to the sequel, and hope Blixt won't make the mistake of killing off Cangrande. Without him, the sequel will be as disappointing as the second season of HBO's "Rome" without Julius Caesar.

As an avid reader of historical fiction, my personal favorite is Dorothy Dunnett, I love picking up a new writer's book--getting in on the "ground floor" of a good series feels like a coup. With that in mind, I feel lucky to have found The Master of Verona. This is the first novel by David Blixt, according to his jacket-profile a Shakespearean actor, and seems to be the first in a series. The setting is 14th century Verona (a welcome respite from Tudor England, the current popular hf setting), the characters a mixture of actual historical figures and characters from Romeo & Juliet (there are a lot of fun little cameos by the characters of Shakespeare's other Italian comedies: Kate and Petruchio, Shylock, and, I'm not positive, but I think we met Benedick from Much Ado).

We follow mainly the story of young Pietro Alaghieri, son of the poet Dante, as he befriends the scions of the Montecchi and Capuletti families (bad stuff happens there, of course); falls into the thrall of the powerful and charismatic Capitano of Verona, Cangrande della Scala and his equally appealing sister, Katerina; and tries to find his own place in the world away from the shadow of his famous father.

There are five or so important plotlines surrounding these characters (and an entertaining side cast of villains, henchmen, servants, clergy, and jesters) that all come together in the course of the book and in the physical presence of a bastard baby named Cesco. There are terrific battle scenes (something I often gloss over in hf, but here they are absolutely cinematic in their delivery), wonderful examples of pageantry and period detail, and, most important in my mind, a really great story.

I started this book as a time-filler on my commute, but I found myself reading late into the night, every night for a few days, until I just pulled an all-nighter to finish. And I don't regret any loss of sleep. This book was a blast and I can hardly wait for the next one.

I enjoyed this book a great deal. Lovers of historical fiction in the vein of Sharon Kay Penman, lovers of Shakespeare and Dante, lovers of a good fight, lovers of a good chase and lovers of political intrigue should definitely check this book out. It does not disappoint!

When I picked up The Master of Verona I thought it would last me at least a week of reading on the train, waiting for the bus, etc. It didn't. Once I started reading I couldn't put it down until I reached the last page. If you are not familiar with Dante or Romeo & Juliet, don't worry, you don't need to be, but if you are, it makes a terrific book that much better. The characters are wonderful and complex and human. The action sequences are so vivid you feel as if you are there watching them happen. The story is fascinating, twisting and turning with every turn of the page. I can't wait to see what Mr. Blixt has up his sleeve for his next book!