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The Second Mrs. Gioconda (Paperback)

by E.L. Konigsburg (Author) "WHY, PEOPLE ASK, why did Leonardo da Vinci choose to paint the portrait of the second wife of an unimportant Florentine merchant when dukes and..." (more)
Key Phrases: young duchess, Leonardo da Vinci, San Severino, Duchess Beatrice (more...)

4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (17 customer reviews)

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Editorial Reviews

Product Description
THE GREATEST ARTIST OF HIS TIME
AN APPRENTICE WITH A LARCENOUS HEART AND AN AVERSION TO THE TRUTH
A YOUNG DUTCHESS WHOSE PLAIN FACE BELIES HER BEAUTIFUL SOUL

Could the complex ways these three lives intertwine hold the key to a historical riddle as enigmatic as the Mona Lisa's smile -- why Leonardo da Vinci devoted three years to a painting of the second wife of an unimportant merchant when all the nobles of Europe were begging for a portrait by his hand?

Only a master storyteller like two-time Newberry Medal-winner E.L. Konigsburg could create such an intriguing answer to the puzzle behind the most famous painting of all time.

From the Publisher
The Mona Lisa... Why did Leonardo da Vinci lavish three years on a painting of the second wife of an unimportant merchant when all the nobles of Europe were begging for a portrait by his hand?

No one knows for sure. But this story of Leonardo, his wayward apprentice Salai, and the Duke of Milan's plain young wife, Beatrice d'Este, may hold the clue to the most famous -- and puzzling -- painting of all time. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

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Product Details

Reading level: Ages 9-12
Paperback: 160 pages
Publisher: Atheneum (May 17, 2005)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1416903429
ISBN-13: 978-1416903420
Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)

Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (17 customer reviews)

Amazon.com Sales Rank: #417,940 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)
Popular in these categories: (What's this?)
#14 in Books > Children's Books > History & Historical Fiction > Fiction > Renaissance
#21 in Books > Children's Books > Authors & Illustrators, A-Z > ( K ) > Konigsburg, E.L.

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First Sentence:
WHY, PEOPLE ASK, why did Leonardo da Vinci choose to paint the portrait of the second wife of an unimportant Florentine merchant when dukes and duchesses all over Italy and the King of France as well, were all begging for a portrait by his hand? Read the first page

Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
young duchess

Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Leonardo da Vinci, San Severino, Duchess Beatrice, Duchess Isabella, Cecilia Gallerani, Duchess of Milan, Last Supper, Duke Ludovico, King of France, Duke of Milan, Lorenzo da Pavia, Duke of Mantua

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Citations (learn more)

This book cites 3 books:

The View from Saturday by E. L. Konigsburg in Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
Throwing Shadows by E.L. Konigsburg in Back Matter
It Had To Be by Mary E. Hall on page 129

32 books cite this book:

Talk, Talk : A Children's Book Author Speaks to Grown-Ups by E.L. Konigsburg in Front Matter, and page 98
Silent to the Bone by E.L. Konigsburg in Front Matter, and Back Matter
The Dragon In The Ghetto Caper by E.L. Konigsburg in Front Matter, and Back Matter
T-backs, T-shirts, Coat and Suit by E.L. Konigsburg in Front Matter, and Back Matter
Caddie Woodlawn's Family (Magical Melons) by Carol Ryrie Brink in Back Matter

See all 32 books citing this book

Books on Related Topics (learn more)

The Most Illustrious Ladies of the Italian Renaissance by Christopher Hare

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Customer Reviews

17 Reviews

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
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Average Customer Review

4.2 out of 5 stars (17 customer reviews)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Why I Recommend This: by a teenage book lover, August 6, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: The Second Mrs. Gioconda (Paperback)

I picked up this book mainly because I saw that it was written by E. L. Konigsburg, a given that it would be a good read. Let's just say it was, in that sense, not disappointing (especially the beginning & middle). I didn't really know that much about Leonardo DaVincci (forgive my spelling errors) before reading this, except that to describe him as a genious would be an understatment, but by the end of the book I felt as if I knew him and understood him both as an artist and a person. And I will never look at The Mona Lisa or any other of his artwork the same again. But to tell you the truth I found the end a bit disapointing. I suppose that was really my own fault though. I had forgotten that this book was based on reality and in my amnesia imagined, or to put it better had no doubts, that there would be some miraculous surprise ending. I EXPECTED a fairy tale ending. It never even occured to me that anyone would die for real! (You see I thought that the death was fake -- a scam to fool the public. Yes, I know I have a wild imagination.) I disliked the ending because I was unprepared for it. I didn't realize I was on the last page until I was literally on the last page. You know how you can tell you're getting to the end of a book because you feel only a few pages in your right fingers? Well, that doesn't work with this book -- there are pictures of paintings by DaVincci (?) in the back of the book. I turn the last page expecting to find the next chapter but find instead that the book is done. I believe "That's it?" were my exact words. I have to say though that the end made the story even more real -- as in it would've happened in real life. The story was excellent despite my immature need for a happy ending. But I AM consistent (I felt the same after Romeo & Juliet). I think that if I had to categorize this book I would place it in the "star-crossed lovers doomed for tragedy" section rather than the "historical fiction -- Leonardo DaVincci" section. Only because the story it really about Leoonardo, eventhough you do learn a lot [of accurate stuff] about him. I believe the story is more romantic, more about true beauty, than anything else. How can I not recommend this book?

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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Who was Mrs. Giaconda?, October 10, 2003

By	Carol Hemphill (Austin, TX USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Second Mrs. Gioconda (Paperback)

The Second Mrs. GIaconda is a magnificently written book by a favorite author, E.L. Konigsburg. Intially the story begins in Milan, Italy, but as it progresses the characters travel to many other locations in sixteenth century Renaissance Europe.

The main character, Salai, is a young thief at the age of thirteen, with hair as curly as a pig's tail. Renaissance man, Leonardo da Vinci, befriends Salai and makes him an apprentice. The only real talent Salai possesses is his ability to make Leonardo laugh. The pair reside in Milan with Duke Il Moro and his wife Beatrice de Este'. Beatrice possesses great inner beauty and they come to love her deeply. A compelling series of events lead up to Leonardo's painting of a mere merchant's wife, the captivating Mona Lisa.

This is a wonderful book filled with a little action, some adventure, some tears and a host of big laughs. It is a wonderful read for any person over the age of ten. The Second Mrs. Giaconda is a story you may want to read again and again!

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12 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Am I Missing The Point???, July 28, 2005

By	Student (Massachusetts, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Second Mrs. Gioconda (Paperback)

The Second Mrs. Giaconda was one of my required books over the summer. I started off thinking that I may really like the book because I LOVE everything else Konigsburg has written. But to my dismay I didn't. I was really disappointed. The book was dull and didn't seem to have a point. I was wanting to hear a story about the actual painting of the Mona Lisa with some of what lead up to it, I wanted to hear what happened after Leonardo painted the world renowned painting. I also wanted to hear more about who Mona Lisa was. That was what the book was supposed to be about, wasn't it? The book really disappointed me. I also thought that the language in the book was too current day. Salai said things like "guy" and "hey". I could be wrong but I don't think that people said those kinds of things in the Renaissance Era. Konigsburg could have done a better job making the language fit the time period. It was really distracting. The book was so thin and quick that you didn't get to know the characters and they weren't well developed. I don't even feel that I got a better understanding of who Leonardo DaVinci was. Maybe I expected too much of a book... All the other book on the list I loved (Kite Runner and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time)! I guess its better luck next time for me. There are books you love...and there are books you don't.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars About beauty
The Second Mrs. Gioconda grabbed me from the first page and didn't let go. In addition to an intriguing story about Leonardo Da Vinci and his apprentice Salai (there is some good... Read more

Published 21 months ago by Dawn Kessinger

2.0 out of 5 stars Certainly not my favorite...
I had to read this for school. Maybe I would have liked it if I had just read it without worrying about the reading analysis that came after. But no matter. Read more

Published on April 1, 2007

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting, but not my favorite
This book was a pretty quick read for me. I picked it up because I am a big fan of E.L. Konigsburg, especially The View From Saturday. Read more

Published on April 2, 2006 by Bort

3.0 out of 5 stars Reinventing History?
The basic rules of good fiction are to take an interesting character and plop him into some action, then ask "What if..." and then "And then what..." and finally, "So what? Read more

Published on November 6, 2005 by Gwynne C. Spencer

4.0 out of 5 stars The Second Mrs.Giaconda
The Second Mrs.Giaconda, by E. L. Konigsburg, is a book about a poor, dogged, perverse boy living in Italy who stumbles upon Leonardo da Vinci... Read more

Published on November 1, 2005

5.0 out of 5 stars Take that, Da Vinci Code!
One of Konigsburg's very best. Her own take on an art mystery: Who was the subject of Da Vinci's Mona Lisa? Read more

Published on March 21, 2005 by Darren in Kansas City

3.0 out of 5 stars Who is the Mona Lisa????
I wasn't very interested in this book because it is about the 19th century and Leonardo Da Vinci. It's a mystery about who the Mona Lisa really was. Read more

Published on January 5, 2002

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Source of Historical Information
This book is excellent.... EL Konigsburg describes the apprentice Salai's service to Leonardo very well... Read more

Published on May 3, 2001 by Student

5.0 out of 5 stars The Second Mrs. Giaionda
The book tries to solve the mystery of who the Mona Lisa was and why Leonardo painted her. The book also allows you to glimpse the day to day life of Leonardo, the man, artist... Read more

Published on December 13, 1999

5.0 out of 5 stars a new favorite!
This book has become a new favorite. Since my childhood, I have really enjoyed Konigsburg's writing. Now as an adult, I still want to get my hands on everything she wrties. Read more

Published on November 1, 1999

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