In the Company of the Courtesan
by Sarah Dunant
description:
“My lady, Fiammetta Bianchini, was plucking her eyebrows and biting color into her lips when the unthinkable happened and the Holy Roman Emperor’s army blew a hole in the wall of God’s eternal city, letting in a flood of half-starved, half-crazed troops bent on pillage and punishment.
Thus begins In the Company of the Courtesan, Sarah Dunant’s epic novel of life in Renaissance Italy. Escaping the sack of Rome in 1527, with their stomachs churning on the jewels they have swallowed, the courtesan Fiammetta and her dwarf companion, Bucino, head for Venice, the shimmering city born out of water to become a miracle of east-west trade: rich and rancid, pious and profitable, beautiful and squalid.
With a mix of courage and cunning they infiltrate Venetian society. Together they make the perfect partnership: the sharp-tongued, sharp-witted dwarf, and his vibrant mistress, trained from birth to charm, entertain, and satisfy men who have the money to support her.
Yet as their fortunes rise, this perfect partnership comes under threat, from the searing passion of a lover who wants more than his allotted nights to the attentions of an admiring Turk in search of human novelties for his sultan’s court. But Fiammetta and Bucino’s greatest challenge comes from a young crippled woman, a blind healer who insinuates herself into their lives and hearts with devastating consequences for them all.
A story of desire and deception, sin and religion, loyalty and friendship, In the Company of the Courtesan paints a portrait of one of the world’s greatest cities at its most potent moment in history: It is apicture that remains vivid long after the final page.”
Giveaway Info: 1 hardcover copy. Open to everyone. Ends November 7, 2009.
Hello, my name is Arleigh... welcome to my book review site! Here you will find author guest posts, book news, reviews and various articles on the genre. My favorite author is Jean Plaidy, of whom I have built a 
Would love to read this…
janemaritz at yahoo dot com
This one sounds very interesting!
I love Sarah Dunant…would love to win this one
tbranco(at)hughes(dot)net
Sounds interesting! Count me in!
crimson_haze(at)hotmail(dot)com
And another great giveaway… Count me in on this one, too!
I’ve been looking for this in paperback but it’s hard to find. Would love to win a copy. Thanks.
I’d love to read this. Thanks for the giveaway!!
I have been wanting to read this one for awhile. I recently got her other book, The Birth of Venus through PBS and can’t wait to read that one. Please enter me! Good to hear that life is starting to come back together for you.
Arleigh, this is an AMAZING book. I love Sarah Dunant’s writing. She has a strong writers’ voice, in addition to creating plots that grab you by the throat and marvelously complex, original, and interesting characters. Whoever wins this is in for a treat.
No need to enter me … I already own the novel.
This book sounds fabulous…please count me in…thanks.
Please count me in!!!
Yet another great giveaway! Please enter me, I love this author!
Cheers,
julie.sherritt[at]gmail.com
Another wonderful giveaway. Please count me in.
Mystica
mystica123athotmaildotcom
Great book and contest. Please count me in.
Nina.happyendings@yahoo.co.uk
I’ve been waiting to read this! Thanks for the giveaway!!
I’d love to play please!
Great one!
Count me in!
carlos_durao AT hotmail DOT com
educhico [at] gmail [dot] com
I’d like to be included!
Hi! Just posted this on our blog, Win A Book. No need to enter me.
Ooooh ooooh! Pick me! Pick me!
I’d love to enter for this one.
Thanks!
bj19662001 (at) yahoo (dot) ca
For this one too.
o_rei_de_havana AT hotmail DOT com
Please count me in, too!
outofblue1(at)gmail(dot)com
This looks interesting, please enter me
reneetaylor at sympatico dot ca
Please count me in! I would love to be given the chance to win this book.
teaandtatteredpages(at)gmail(dot)com
Thank you very much.
Please enter me in the giveaway. Thanks
Sarah Dunant is such a wonderful writer. Please count me in:
laraa.corona[at]gmail.com
This looks great! Please enter me!
BethsBookReviewBlog AT gmail DOT com
I just finished reading Sacred Hearts and really liked it, so I would love to give this one a try.
akreese (at) hotmail (dot) com
The book looks so good. Please enter me.
Just love the cover!
dr.strangelove.vs.citizen.kane
@
gmail.com
would love a chance to win this!
sensitivemuse at gmail dot com
thanks!
jafantunes [@] sapo [.] pt
This book looks so interesting.
Please enter me in this contest
beachlover20855[AT]yahoo[DOT]com
I love Sarah’s books. Please enter me for this one.
Dutchlvr1(at)aol(dot)com
This looks great – please count me in!!
gaby317nyc at gmail dot com
Please count me in!
milkavainamo(at)lyseo(dot)edu(dot)ouka(dot)fi
Please enter me for this contest. I’d love to read this book. Tq
evangelineace2020[at]yahoo[dot]com
Sounds like a very interesting book. Please include me in the giveaway.
Please enter me in the contest. Thanks.
avalonne83 [at] yahoo [dot] it
Oh goody!
Count me in, ok?
All the best to you!
Hey!
Another great giveaway!
I hope they never stop!
catarina DOT magoito AT gmail DOT com
Please include me in your giveaway
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bluebelle0367(at)hotmail(dot)com
sounds great thanks
count me in
wadesherry@hotmail dot com
Great beggining!
I want in.
goncalo DOT mil AT gmail DOT com
joanapatriciadias
@
gmail.com
I would love to win this one!
It really seems as it will be a great read!
Hey, great giveaway as usual!
Count me in!
please count me in your giveaway
rubs.escalona [at] gmail.com
Great giveaway. I would really like to read this book.
Please enter me. Thanks
cherdon@sympatico.ca