The Scribe of Siena

A Novel

De: Melodie Winawer

Narrado por: Cassandra Campbell

Equal parts transporting love story and gripping historical conspiracy - think The Girl with a Pearl Earring meets Outlander - debut author Melodie Winawer takes listeners deep into medieval Italy, where the past and present blur and a 21st-century woman will discover a plot to destroy Siena.

Accomplished neurosurgeon Beatrice Trovato knows that her deep empathy for her patients is starting to impede her work. So when her beloved brother passes away, she welcomes the unexpected trip to the Tuscan city of Siena to resolve his estate, even as she wrestles with grief. But as she delves deeper into her brother's affairs, she discovers intrigue she never imagined - a 700-year-old conspiracy to decimate the city.

After uncovering the journal and paintings of Gabriele Accorsi, the 14th-century artist at the heart of the plot, Beatrice finds a startling image of her own face and is suddenly transported to the year 1347. She awakens in a Siena unfamiliar to her, one that will soon be hit by the Plague.

Yet when Beatrice meets Accorsi, something unexpected happens: She falls in love - not only with Gabriele but also with the beauty and cadence of medieval life. As the Plague and the ruthless hands behind its trajectory threaten not only her survival but also Siena's very existence, Beatrice must decide in which century she belongs.

The Scribe of Siena is the captivating story of a brilliant woman's passionate affair with a time and a place that captures her in an impossibly romantic and dangerous trap - testing the strength of fate and the bonds of love.

©2017 Melodie Winawer (P)2017 S&S Audio

Reseñas de la Crítica

"Will remind historical fiction readers of Diana Gabaldon's Outlander and Tracy Chevalier's Girl with a Pearl Earring.... Lovers of meticulously researched historical fiction and time-travel narratives will be swept away by the spell of medieval Siena." ( Library Journal)

"Cassandra Campbell's performance transports listeners to medieval Italy... Campbell's narration is an engrossing complement to the story, helping the listener to vividly imagine life as it was in that long-ago time." ( AudioFile)

Siena, Medival times, The Black Plague = Excellent

This book was outstanding!! The time travel came as a bit of a surprise, the narration was excellent - love Cassandra Campbell - and her Italian accent was perfect. The characters were terrific - really well developed and real enough to care about. The descriptions of the paintings and medieval Siena were wonderful! The plot line regarding the onslaught of the plague was great!
The epilogue gives great info about what is and is not accurate in this historical fiction
Highly, Highly recommend!!
PS - Also very surprised to see this was the only book by this author.....so wishing there was a sequel!

Absolutely Amazing

I loved this book and narrator. I'm SO happy I stumbled across it. It is breathtaking and has made me want to learn more wait Italy and it's history. This book I could read again and again...or I should say listen too. Romantic, dramatic, stunning.

Intriguing, I didn't want it it end!!!

The narrator was awesome. The novel and images of Siena came alive in my mind's eye, making Siena special to me, though I've never been there. The characters became family, friends, acquaintances, foes. While listening, throughout, my heart pound with fear and anticipation as danger occurred and as as human intimacies were narrated. Throughout, tears welled in my eyes AND I smiled and laughed. I yearn to learn more about 14th Century Siena. I didn't want it to end!!!

if you are a fan of outlander, this is for you

I enjoy most books involving time travel. This one reminded me of the outlander series due to there being a healer and ability to travel back and forth. I'm also a sucker for love stories. I found myself going to sleep late at night over this book and dreaming of Italy. Overall I enjoyed it.

WOOOOWWWW

I could not stop listening. So well written! Melodie transports you back to 14th century Tuscany with her vivid descriptions. Cassandra's narration deserves an award! I will definitely look for more titles with her narrating.

The plot is thick and well written 👏🏽. Best part was the plot wasn't peppered with unnecessary sex. It was refreshing to have actual romance sprinkled throughout this spectacular book. I can highly recommend this book.

Beautiful

This was a surprise for me. A wonderful fusion of love story, some history and romance narrated with a warm Italian accent. Her English voice sometimes sounds wooden but nothing is perfect I guess.

Great story

So much fun to imagine this oddly believable time travel novel. I also enjoyed the mystery, romance and drama.

Captivating story

I really enjoyed this historical fiction. It’s not an era of history I am familiar with and it was a nice change of pace. I really enjoyed the authenticity of the sources, time, and place while telling a fictional story. It was a really nice listen that engages the reader and keeps the story moving without jumping around. I like that we also got romance ties with a larger plot.

Thoroughly enjoyable!

Loved this book! Totally engrossing. Found myself feeling sorry when the book came to an end because I wanted to keep following these characters.

The Middle Ages Come to Life

I was in search of a story that took me as far away from present day America as I could find, and The Scribe of Siena did the trick. The main character, Beatrice, time travels from 21st century NYC and her life as a brain surgeon, to 14th century Siena, where she lands a job as a scribe, falls in love, saves some lives, and solves a 600 year old mystery.

For a few years I taught Medieval history to 6th graders, and reading this book took me back to many of the topics we touched on, including the role of the church in Medieval life and the Black Death. It's was interesting to read about the lives (albeit, fictional lives) of those who survived and the role that God and the church played in the lives of EVERYONE. If you're not into reading about and being bummed out by a pestilent plague that wiped out anywhere from 1/3 to 1/2 of the people of Europe -- don't worry -- the Black Death is really not what this book is about, and the author handles it realistically, but without too much misery or gore. I enjoyed the descriptions of Sienna, both present-day and past, including the art and architecture that abounds there. There are fictional Medicis in this book, and it made me curious to know more about this widely influential Italian family.

Most, but not all of the loose strings of the story get tied up into a nice neat bow at the end. But no matter. This story was engaging and educational and fun, and it and made me consider what I would be willing to give up to go back to a simpler time.