''The Botticelli Secret'' is a 2010

historical History (derived ) is the systematic study and the documentation of the human activity. The time period of event before the invention of writing systems is considered prehistory. "History" is an umbrella term comprising past events as well ...

- mystery-

detective A detective is an investigator, usually a member of a law enforcement agency. They often collect information to solve crimes by talking to witnesses and informants, collecting physical evidence, or searching records in databases. This leads th ...

novel written by

Marina Fiorato Marina Fiorato is an Italian-English designer, actress, film producer and author. Early life Fiorato was born in Manchester,Monica Bottino"La scrittrice inglese che ama il Rinascimento genovese" '' il Giornale'', 25 November 2011 with a Venet ...

in the vein of

code In communications and information processing, code is a system of rules to convert information—such as a letter, word, sound, image, or gesture—into another form, sometimes shortened or secret, for communication through a communication ...

adventures An adventure is an exciting experience or undertaking that is typically bold, sometimes risky. Adventures may be activities with danger such as traveling, exploring, skydiving, mountain climbing, scuba diving, river rafting, or other extreme sp ...

such as '' The Da Vinci Code'' by Dan Brown. Set in the 15th century throughout the Italian states, the protagonists are part-time model and full-time prostitute Luciana Vetra and monk Father Guido della Torre as they are thrown together in Florence and chased across the country through the likes of

Venice Venice ( ; it, Venezia ; vec, Venesia or ) is a city in northeastern Italy and the capital of the Veneto Regions of Italy, region. It is built on a group of 118 small islands that are separated by canals and linked by over 400 ...

, Milan and Rome. The title of the novel refers to a conspiracy that Luciana has stumbled across, and a

in the famous painting ''

La Primavera LA most frequently refers to Los Angeles, the second largest city in the United States. La, LA, or L.A. may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Music * La (musical note), or A, the sixth note * "L.A.", a song by Elliott Smith on Figure 8 ( ...

'' by Renaissance artist Sandro Botticelli.

Plot summary

In 15th-century Italy, Luciana Vetra was young and beautiful, with long, golden hair. She was a full-time whore and a part-time model. When her best client asked her to pose as the goddess Flora for a painting, Luciana complied until the artist abruptly sends her away without payment. Luciana angrily took the unfinished painting, but someone was ready to kill her and people she knows to get the painting back. As friends and clients are murdered around her, Luciana turned to Guido della Torre, a novice at the monastery of Santa Croce. They fled together through the nine great cities of Renaissance Italy, trying to decode the painting's secrets before their enemies caught up with them.

Secret of ''La Primavera''

Woven into the novel like a Dan Brown

, Fiorato analyzes the painting and pulls out each of the characters that

Botticelli Alessandro di Mariano di Vanni Filipepi ( – May 17, 1510), known as Sandro Botticelli (, ), was an Italian painter of the Early Renaissance. Botticelli's posthumous reputation suffered until the late 19th century, when he was rediscovered ...

created—not just to be seen as individuals, but as whole too. Many Renaissance academics (including Professor Guidoni) share the same belief as Fiorato that there is a

in the painting, and its true meaning is revealed at the end of the novel - lifting a conspiracy that would last until the 19th century.

gained special permission from the Uffizi Gallery in Florence to use the image of ''

'', and many editions published contain the painting's image to help the reader decipher the

Reception

* ''Fiorato creates her own masterpiece set at the height of Medici power. Renaissance Italy comes alive in brilliant sights and sounds from marbled halls to filthy sewers. Luciana is irrepressible, unabashed, and an absolute hoot while Guido foils her nicely as the learned, noble Holmes to her Watson. Political intrigue is deftly woven throughout, allowing readers to try their best sleuthing.'' — Booklist

Sales

Fiorato's novel has been an international best seller, published across the world.Marina Fiorato: novelist who wrote in cafés earns £250,000 advance
UK, The Telegraph, May 16, 2010 Work has begun adapting it into an event TV drama with Amber Entertainment, to be shot on location around Italy.

References

External links

Marina Fiorato's official website

US Publisher Website

UK Publisher Website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Botticelli Secret, The 2010 British novels Novels set in Venice Novels set in Milan Novels set in Florence Sandro Botticelli Cultural depictions of 15th-century painters St. Martin's Press books John Murray (publishing house) books Novels set in the 15th century Flora (mythology) Greek and Roman deities in fiction