Some novels resonate at the time they’re published, while others have plots, characters, and themes that never go out of date.
You probably think of beloved novels in the second category, and I’d like to introduce you to one of my favorites, The Secret Book of Grazia dei Rossi, written by Jacqueline Park more than twenty years ago. Because it was set in Renaissance Italy, there’s no outdated technology or fashions to spoil your reading experience.
What makes this novel special?
- The Secret Book of Grazia dei Rossi takes readers through numerous key events of the Italian Renaissance (wars, conflicts between Italian city-states, religious persecution, the sack of Rome, to name a few), from the unique vantage point of a gifted Jewish woman attempting to find her way in an often-hostile Christian culture.
- Grazia records the secrets of her life so her son will understand her choices (and his heritage) after her passing.
- The author based this story on a brief footnote about a real-life Italian woman of that era.
- During Grazia’s lifetime, Italy experiences rebirth/renaissance on an intellectual level, with the discovery of ancient Greek and Roman texts. She encounters such luminaries as Pico della Mirandola, the Florentine philosopher, Aldus Manutius, Venice’s master printer, and Benevenuto Cellini, sculptor and writer.
- At the same time, undercurrents of anti-Semitism and misogyny limit Grazia’s options and endanger her. Her romance with a Christian nobleman challenges her to abandon the faith and traditions of her ancestors, risking estrangement from her family. Grazia’s character, as well as several others, emerge as memorable portraits of the era.
As I revisited and reviewed this novel, I discovered that its author, Jacqueline Park, extended the story into a family saga with a sequel, The Legacy of Grazia dei Rossi, and the concluding volume, Son of Two Fathers (completed after her death by Gilbert Reid). I’m eager to read these novels, and I’d appreciate your comments if you’ve read either or both.
Characters:
Grazia dei Rossi—protagonist, daughter of a Jewish family who obtains a humanist education and struggles between allegiance to her heritage and her attraction to a man from outside the Jewish faith
Danilo—Grazia’s son, still an adolescent when this novel ends
Judah—Grazia’s husband, a highly-regarded Jewish physician who gains employment by the pope
Lord Pirro Gonzaga—a Christian nobleman whom Grazia meets for the first time during her adolescence
Marchesa Isabella d’Este da Gonzaga—a powerful noblewoman in Renaissance Rome, she employs Grazia as her private secretary and tries to persuade Grazia to convert to Christianity
Strengths:
This novel offers readers a close perspective on the Renaissance in Italy, revealing both high and low points of the era.
Weakness:
The novel’s length (560 pages) may deter some readers.
Content review:
The story includes scenes of physical intimacy, as well as violence, especially directed toward Jewish people
My Recommendation:
The Secret Book of Grazia dei Rossi will be a great read if you enjoy a thoughtful yet action-filled saga that places you in the midst of the Italian Renaissance.
Reader, do you have a favorite novel set in the Italian Renaissance?