Verona, 1576.
Heresy is fatal in late Renaissance Italy, but Martin Luther’s book ignites a young girl’s faith.
She must choose—abandon her beliefs or risk everything.
Join Lucia as she navigates the exciting and perilous world of late 16th-century Italy!
“A gripping tale of a young girl of Renaissance Italy…a superb example of historical fiction based on actual fact.”
Dr. Jeannine Olson, Professor of History, Rhode Island College
HISTORICAL NOVELIST
C.L.R. Peterson
Renaissance history came to life for C.L.R. Peterson during a semester in Italy.
Later the classic David-versus-Goliath battle of Luther and the Roman Church hooked her on the Reformation, and she earned a PhD in Early Modern European History at Stanford University.
She loves to tell the stories of little-known heroes of the Renaissance/Reformation era.
Lucia’s Renaissance is her debut novel, soon to be followed by the sequel, Lucia’s Journey.
She has also written several short stories in Lucia’s storyworld, including “Caterina’s Choice,” which is available at no charge to readers who sign up for her author newsletter.
My New Short Story! Free to my Subscribers!
Verona, 1571.
When Caterina welcomes her husband’s brilliant student, Alessandro, into their home, she has no idea how he will heighten the danger her family faces as the Inquisition closes in.
Against the vivid backdrop of Renaissance Verona, this prequel short story to my novel Lucia’s Renaissance captures the terror of the Inquisition’s reach.
Immerse yourself in rich historical detail and high emotional stakes in this dramatic story of danger and conscience!
Recent Blog Posts
In the Shadows of Royalty: Labor of Love in the Medici Court
Do you think a recent novel entitled, Labor of Love, is: Related to a Shakespeare play The story of a pregnant woman’s experience giving birth Something entirely different In the case of Marguerite Martin Gray’s recent novel, answer #3 is correct. Without...
Fight, Flight, or Hide: the Huguenots’ Choice
Review and author interview about Find Me in the Stars, an adventure- and suspense-filled story of 17th-century Huguenots (French Protestants) driven into hiding or away from their remote homeland, the Cévennes region [once called Languedoc, now (since 2016) Occitànie] by religious persecution.
The Mystery of Two Duchesses and their Duke
Why would you want to read about Duke Alfonso II, who ruled Ferrara during the Italian Renaissance, and his first two duchesses? See my review of The Marriage Portrait, by Maggie O’Farrell, and the brief mention of The Second Duchess, by Elizabeth Loupas.
My Holiday Gift for You
Instead of a book review, this month, I’m offering you, loyal reader, my new short story, “Caterina’s Choice.” It’s a short prequel to my debut novel, Lucia’s Renaissance.
A Surprising Era in Salerno: Book Review of Rebecca of Salerno
The idea of a female physician in the United States was virtually unheard of until the 1800s, so it might seem implausible for a young Jewish woman to pursue a medical career as far back as 1195. But Esther Erman’s recent novel, “Rebecca of Salerno,” skillfully weaves a compelling narrative that defies the odds and historical constraints.
When Exceptional Art Meets Everyday People
Have you ever encountered art, literature, or music that impacted you in a way you can never forget? We review a historical novel about a painting that altered several lives, and a work of history in which opera changed two ordinary lives, which in turn saved numerous lives.