The Marriage Portrait

I loved this book because it completely immersed me in the world of Renaissance Italy.

O’Farrell sets up the idea at the beginning of the novel that her protagonist Lucrezia’s life is at risk, so there’s an ominous quality hanging over the story, but Lucrezia’s interactions with her family members and her menacing yet charismatic husband really jump off the page.

I also appreciated the fact that these were actual historical figures—I enjoy novels that make me want to learn more about the real people involved.

The book is based on one of the most obliquely sinister poems ever written, “My Last Duchess” by Robert Browning—one of my favorite poems, so I couldn’t wait to read it.

O’Farrell tells the dark story that Browning only hinted at. I loved the artistry in this novel—hints, clues, and significant imagery. The plot is so gripping that I had to race through to discover how this thriller set in Renaissance Italy would end.

First, you need to know that my favourite books will always have three things in common: a fast story with an intense emotional expression—I can't do slow and gentle, however skilled the writing; a gripping start; and a distinct, pitch-perfect voice. These days, I am much less forgiving, and I can't waste time reading a book that doesn't deliver all these in spades.

I'm also drawn to historical fiction that shows the place women occupied in society at various times and how they dealt with it. I'm a huge fan of Maggie O'Farrell's writing, but The Marriage Portrait… show more.

I was absolutely blown away by O’Farrell’s earlier book, Hamnet! But would I love her new book as much or would I be disappointed?

I loved The Marriage Portrait every bit as much as Hamnet! O’Farrell has to be one of the best historical fiction writers out there. Her books are immersive, captivating, and thought provoking. I love the fact that both Hamnet and The Marriage Portrait tell the stories of strong women taking fate into their own hands.

This extraordinary novel deftly creates a compelling vision of the world of women in Renaissance Tuscany while telling a timeless tale of the most unexpected of romantic encounters: a richly imagined historical novel that delivers an entirely modern view of women’s resilience in the face of adversity.

The tale is told with wit, guile, and a pervasive and sometimes sly humor that recurrently undercuts the pompous posturing of the privileged and powerful. 

I adore the narration, which manages to be both foreboding and light-hearted.

I was pulled into the story of a marriage which pits Lucrezia Medici against Alfonso, Duke of Ferrara, in a silent war for autonomy and mastery, each a two-faced Janus trying to stay alive in their respective roles.

Lucrezia is a painter of hand-holdable studies of the way nature and society connect; absorbed in her own world, she is overwhelmed by the court life of which her husband is the ruthless leader. His impotence bleeds into disguised hatred of her childlessness, while her imagination keeps her sane in… show more.

The world of Renaissance Italy is brought to vivid life in this novel inspired by the short and tragic story of a real woman.

In 1550, Lucretia, a young duchess, is betrothed to a ruthless and powerful politician. Her one duty: to provide him with an heir. In a troubled court, Lucrezia faces unimaginable danger, and one false step could end her life. O’Farrell’s wonderful novel transported me back to a lost world of obscene riches and malevolent marriages, and I was willing Lucrezia to survive.

I could not put this book down, and all manner of duties were left… show more.

I love historical fiction that makes a moment in time come alive, but also adds a lens to it—otherwise why read fiction?

The Marriage Portrait plunged me into the 16th century in Florence and Ferrara, and showed those familiar palaces to me through the lens of how powerful men manipulate women, and how women who seem to have no power in a society can still fight back. It also makes me see the famous Browning poem and all of the court portraits of the era in a new light.

I loved the highly layered details, and admired the way O’Farrell… show more.

The Marriage Portrait is a fabulous exercise in the imaginary, in what could have been, in language that matches the ornateness of the gowns and at the same time the brutality of the manner.

Maggie O’Farrell takes a sliver of a glimpse of a character, a young girl in a poem and in a portrait, and weaves a rich and vivid tapestry of the brief life and marriage of Lucrezia dé Medici (1545-1561), the interplay of her powerful family, the court, her role as a tool of diplomacy and the hard edge of her husband’s character.

No spoilers here, but… show more.

I was delighted when Maggie O’Farrell started writing historical fiction, and this one is a masterclass in novel writing.

It opens as teenaged Lucrezia is taken to a remote hunting lodge by her husband Alfonso, the Duke of Ferrara. He has ordered all her personal servants to remain behind and as they eat dinner, she realizes he is planning to kill her. What a beginning! The writing is lush and colorful, the characterizations subtle, and the story utterly gripping.