The Master of Verona (Hardcover)

~ (Author)
Key Phrases: Donna Katerina, Master of Verona, Marsilio da Carrara (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Upon the death of his elder brother in 1314, Pietro Alaghieri, 17, is thrust headlong into the post of scion to his father, the famous poet Dante, in this rollicking historical debut from Shakespearean actor Blixt. In trying to keep up with his razor-sharp father and their new patron, the scintillating and brilliant Francesco della Scalla (known as "Cangrande"), Pietro finds qualities in himself that surprise him. Cangrande may or may not be the prophesied "Greyhound" who is to cast out evil and usher in a new world under God—many seek the role. Meanwhile, Pietro's two best friends, Mariotto and Antonio, are pushed to the edge of rekindling an ancient blood feud by their joint love of a woman, which stretches Pietro's loyalties to their limits. The precipitous ending, marked with dizzying revelations by the protagonists, do nothing to mar a novel of intricate plot, taut narrative, sharp period detail and beautifully realized characters. (July)
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Review

"A novel of intricate plot, taut narrative, sharp period detail, and beautifully realized characters." --Publishers Weekly on The Master of Verona

 

"A debut historical novel people by Dante and other Italian Renaissance figures, along with reimagined Montagues and Capulets...intricate plotting, well-staged scenes, and colorful descriptions...lively entertainment!" --Kirkus Reviews on Master of Verona

 

 

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 570 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press (July 24, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312361440
• ISBN-13: 978-0312361440
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.2 x 2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (38 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #783,594 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A masterful tale of adventure and intrigue, August 28, 2007

By	C. W. Gortner "Author of THE LAST QUEEN and T... (San Francisco, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Favorite Beach Book of Summer 2007, September 5, 2007

By	Scott Kennedy "Reading Addict" (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant mix of history and Shakespeare, August 10, 2007

By	Christopher M. Walsh (Chicago, IL United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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."