The Stolen Lady

A Novel of World War II and the Mona Lisa

By: Laura Morelli

Narrated by: Lisa Flanagan, Caroline Hewitt, Paul Woodson

Length: 13 hrs and 8 mins

Publisher's summary

From the acclaimed author of The Night Portrait comes a stunning historical novel about two women, separated by 500 years, who each hide Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa - with unintended consequences.

France, 1939

At the dawn of World War II, Anne Guichard, a young archivist employed at the Louvre, arrives home to find her brother missing. While she works to discover his whereabouts, refugees begin flooding into Paris and German artillery fire rattles the city. Once they reach the city, the Nazis will stop at nothing to get their hands on the Louvre’s art collection. Anne is quickly sent to the Castle of Chambord, where the Louvre’s most precious artworks - including the Mona Lisa - are being transferred to ensure their safety. With the Germans hard on their heels, Anne frantically moves the Mona Lisa and other treasures again and again in an elaborate game of hide and seek. As the threat to the masterpieces and her life grows closer, Anne also begins to learn the truth about her brother and the role he plays in this dangerous game.

Florence, 1479

House servant Bellina Sardi’s future seems fixed when she accompanies her newly married mistress, Lisa Gherardini, to her home across the Arno. Lisa’s husband, a prosperous silk merchant, is aligned with the powerful Medici, his home filled with luxuries and treasures. But soon, Bellina finds herself bewitched by a charismatic monk who has urged Florentines to rise up against the Medici and to empty their homes of the riches and jewels her new employer prizes. When Master Leonardo da Vinci is commissioned to paint a portrait of Lisa, Bellina finds herself tasked with hiding an impossible secret.

When art and war collide, Leonardo da Vinci, his beautiful subject Lisa, and the portrait find themselves in the crosshairs of history.

©2021 Laura Morelli (P)2021 HarperCollins Publishers

An interesting tie with history!

This is not usually my preferred kind of audio-book. Multiple narrators can be confusing and I usually like one more than another. In this case, I chose this book because of one narrator. What became an advantage, is that there was little cross-over between the 3 parts. The two historical roles were not in the same social circle so it wasn't confusing and the "present day" character broke things up and made sense. It was very interesting following the Mona Lisa's path. The narrator I follow in this case is Caroline Hewitt and in my opinion the book could have been done by her with no confusion.

2 Stories from "Mona Lisa"

What a treat! This is the double story of Lisa Gherardina, the subject of the painting, and the employees of the Louvre's efforts to save the priceless works of art from the Nazi's during World War II. The story of Lisa gives her background story, her life as the wife of a wealthy merchant in Florence, her sister, and Leonardo da Vinci's life, trials, and tribulations. Lisa struggled with depression, which was reflected in the face of the lady in the painting, and her choice of how she looked in the painting. The stories of her sister and the snippets of Leonardo's life make for an interesting story. It's funny how random bits of information cross your path when you least expect. For example, I was listening to an early episode of NCIS, when Ducky mentioned "Do you know the husband of the woman in the Mona Lisa never owned the painting he commissioned? Leonardo da Vinci took it and kept it with him till his death." I spent the rest of the book learning if that was true.

The crating up of the art treasures in the Louvre, their tremendous efforts to keep ahead of the Nazis, transporting them here and there, their stories of encounters and close calls, and their efforts merging with the French Resistance, are all in this story. It was no easy feat! It was not a matter of pack and go to a safe place, but of dealing with the stress of the Nazis, being on the run to stay ahead of them, and tremendous hardships while lugging huge crated art treasures around France.

This book merges "the story behind" a priceless painting, and a thrilling World War II story. In my book it's a winner!

Fascinating Piece of History

I have visited many of the places mentioned in this story and it was nice to visualize them again.

Entertaining

I enjoyed listening to this historical fiction book about Leonardo da Vinci & his Mona Lisa painting’s history, as well as how the workers of the Louvre saved it during WWII.

Such a beautiful amazing story …

… of courage, inspiration. Must read book. The performance was so French. I was kept on the edge of my seat. Truly truly an amazing story and so grateful to all these art curators who risked their lives to save these works of art.

Interesting perspective on WW2

Interesting story of the bravery of the French to save priceless works of art during the war

Wow 👌 👏 😍

i really liked the story of the Mona Lisa. I just do not understand why authors think a story should jump around between years and go back and forth???? The different storylines could have been cohesive and better!!!

Didn't hold my attention

The book was OK. I did finish it but felt like I got "bogged down" and had to force myself to move forward. The book had some interesting parts and that kept me going. I rated it a three star because the description for this rating is "pretty good"...and it was. It just wasn't great in my opinion. I wouldn't discourage anyone from reading/listening to it.

Very interesting….

This book would make a great movie. There were a few slow spots but power through….worth it.

Magnificent 👍

If you love art. If you love history. If you love drama. If you love the renaissance. If you love romance. If you love bravery. If you love learning. If you enjoy irony (I am sure I left many subjects out 😢)…..you will totally enjoy this view of artistic and historical events told trough the eyes and voices of three major characters.
And, although it’s is a work of fiction, the facts surrounding The Mona Lisa are pretty accurate.
My compliments to the narrators who carry us through 30 yeas of the Renaissance and 5 years of Cloak and dagger art during the German occupation of Paris.
I look forward to M. Morelli’s next contribution to my collection of historic fiction.