In the Company of the Courtesan

A Novel

By: Sarah Dunant

Narrated by: Stephen Hoye

Length: 13 hrs and 56 mins

Publisher's summary

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 a picture that remains vivid long after the final word.

©2006 Sarah Dunant (P)2006 Books on Tape

Critic reviews

"Lush and intelligent....Dunant is the kind of writer a reader will follow anywhere, trusting completely in her ability both to bring a time and place to life and to tell an enthralling story." (Booklist)
"Through Bucino's sharp-eyed, sharp-tongued narration, Dunant crafts a vivid vision of Venetian life....Dunant's characters...are irresistible throughout their shifting fortunes." (Publishers Weekly)

Excellent read

If you enjoy novels that artfully weave in history and historic figures, and, in this case, taking place in the late 1500s in Venice, this book is for you.

As if you were there. . .

Sarah Dunant has a beautiful way of writing that really brings you into her stories.

History brough to life

This is a great example of historical fiction and you can believe that a story like this really happened. The descriptions are vivid - I could imagine swallowing the rubies and pearls, and feel the panic when he falls into the canal. It's interesting to see the relationship between the courtesan and her dwarf as partner and servant evolve, but his unexpected attachment to the healer and his feelings of betrayal when he discovers her secret and then remorse at the consequences of his action are another well written subplot.

Drags, but good ending

I thought the story wasn't very exciting. Maybe the reader had something to do with it. He spoke really slow and a bit monotone. I had to speed it up on my ipod. It did pick up the last couple of hours and had a decent ending.

Good Story

Like Dunant's other books, In the Company of the Courtesan is a rich historical fiction. Her description of the time and place make you feel as if you're in 16th century Italy. The narrator tends to repeat the same tone and syllable pattern. If you can get past him, it's definitely worth listening to.

Narrator

If you read this book at 1.25 speed you will love this book! Otherwise it’s way too dreary. It is unfair to rate the narrator otherwise.

Another amazing book of Renaissance History r

What did you love best about In the Company of the Courtesan?

The whole story was so interesting if you love history and the reading, superb.

What was one of the most memorable moments of In the Company of the Courtesan?

The escape from Rome, when it was attacked, and the relationship between the courtesan and her servant. And the witch doctor.

Which scene was your favorite?

The very last one of the book!

If you could rename In the Company of the Courtesan, what would you call it?

Could not improve on the name, loved the previous book Birth of Venus, why I wanted to continue with this author, did not like Sacred Hearts, dumped it after the first hour.

beyond tedious

I listened to about 3/4's of this book before finally giving up - the plot is non-existent and the characters are wooden at best. I listen to a lot of historical fiction and this is the bottom of the barrel.

Melodramatic Narrator

I can not even finish the book- the narrator is driving me insane. And that is with the ipod at fast playback.
Listen to the sample before buying.

okay

Somewhat interesting. I found the narrator voice a little irritating.