''Muse'' is a 2013 novel by the

Canadian Canadians (french: Canadiens) are people identified with the country of Canada. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Canadians, many (or all) of these connections exist and are collectively the source of ...

author

Mary Novik Mary Novik is a Canadian novelist. Biography Born in Victoria, British Columbia and raised in Victoria and Surrey, Mary Novik received a Ph.D. in literature from The University of British Columbia and lives in Vancouver, British Columbia.Gudru ...

. It is set in 14th century

Avignon Avignon (, ; ; oc, Avinhon, label=Provençal dialect, Provençal or , ; la, Avenio) is the Prefectures in France, prefecture of the Vaucluse Departments of France, department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Regions of France, region of So ...

.Robert Wiersema. "Love Poetry's Labour Lost", ''The Vancouver Sun'', August 17, 2013, p. C7 The book follows Solange, a fictional character based on

Laura de Noves Laura de Noves (1310–1348) was the wife of Count Hugues de Sade (ancestor of the Marquis de Sade). She could be the Laura that the Humanist poet Francesco Petrarch wrote about extensively; however, she has never been positively identified as ...

, supposedly (though not in history) the mistress of the Italian poet

Francesco Petrarch Francesco Petrarca (; 20 July 1304 – 18/19 July 1374), commonly anglicized as Petrarch (), was a scholar and poet of early Renaissance Italy, and one of the earliest humanists. Petrarch's rediscovery of Cicero's letters is often credited w ...

and the unnamed mother of his children.Joan Givner. "Solange and the Flaming Spear", ''BC Bookworld'', Vol. 27, No. 2 (Summer 2013), pp. 24, 26 ''Muse'' is Novik's second book. It was first published in 2013 by

Doubleday Canada Doubleday Canada is an imprint of the publishing company Penguin Random House Canada. The company used to be known as Forboys. It was incorporated in 1936, and since 1945 it has been known as Doubleday Canada Limited. In 1986 parent company Doubl ...

. An Italian translation, entitled ''L'amante del Papa'', was published by

Newton Compton Editori Newton Compton Editori, sometimes spelled Newton & Compton, is an Italian publisher. The publisher was founded in Rome by Vittorio Avanzini in 1969. The house has published mostly paperbacks and low cost editions, including literature classics, es ...

, also in 2013.

Synopsis

The story is narrated by Solange Le Blanc, a young woman who has been raised in a

Benedictine , image = Medalla San Benito.PNG , caption = Design on the obverse side of the Saint Benedict Medal , abbreviation = OSB , formation = , motto = (English: 'Pray and Work') , foun ...

nunnery A convent is a community of monks, nuns, religious brothers or, sisters or priests. Alternatively, ''convent'' means the building used by the community. The word is particularly used in the Catholic Church, Lutheran churches, and the Anglican C ...

from birth and trained to be a scribe. However, she is also believed to be

clairvoyant Clairvoyance (; ) is the magical ability to gain information about an object, person, location, or physical event through extrasensory perception. Any person who is claimed to have such ability is said to be a clairvoyant () ("one who sees cl ...

. The nuns believe that Solange will make their nunnery famous, even though her visions are frequently disturbing and eventually cause her to flee to Avignon, where she tries to find work as a scribe. Through her work as a scribe she meets

Petrarch Francesco Petrarca (; 20 July 1304 – 18/19 July 1374), commonly anglicized as Petrarch (), was a scholar and poet of early Renaissance Italy, and one of the earliest humanists. Petrarch's rediscovery of Cicero's letters is often credited w ...

and the two begin a torrid affair.

Reception

Critical reception for ''Muse'' has been positive. The ''

Winnipeg Free Press The ''Winnipeg Free Press'' (or WFP; founded as the ''Manitoba Free Press'') is a daily (excluding Sunday) broadsheet newspaper in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. It provides coverage of local, provincial, national, and international news, as well as ...

'' wrote that "As literary fiction, Muse is an illuminating portrait of women struggling to have it all, including lovers, children, fortune and prominence, despite whatever pain they endure." ''

Quill & Quire ''Quill & Quire'' is a Canadian magazine about the book and publishing industry. The magazine was launched in 1935 and has an average circulation of 5,000 copies per issue, with a publisher-claimed readership of 25,000. ''Quill & Quire'' reviews ...

'' praised the work, writing "At times, ''Muse'' tips into melodrama, but it highlights an intriguing and admirably resilient figure. Solange recognizes and embraces her sins, her weaknesses, and her desire for romantic and carnal love."

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Muse Canadian historical novels Novels set in the Middle Ages Novels set in Avignon 2013 Canadian novels Novels set in France Novels set in the 14th century Novels by Mary Novik Petrarch Doubleday Canada books