From acclaimed historical novelist Lynn Cullen comes a lush and compelling tale of intrigue and longing, set in the 16th-century Spanish court. After a scandal ends her apprenticeship with Michelangelo in 1559, artist Sofonisba Anguissola accepts an invitation from King Felipe II to become lady-in-waiting and painting teacher to his teenage bride Elisabeth. And though Sofi's developing affair may be risky, Elisabeth's dalliance with the king's brother Don Juan could be deadly.
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"This is a novel about Sofonisba, an Italian painter during the late 1500s, who served Philip II's third wife, Elisabeth of Valois. This novel is just as much about Elisabeth as it is about Sofi. It is an intriguing read about a unique character for her times. Enjoyable and quick paced."
— Kate (4 out of 5 stars)
“Beautifully imagined...Ongoing references to the Spanish Inquisition and the life of the controversial Michelangelo add depth to this rich story.”
— Publishers Weekly“[A] finely textured fictional biography...Cullen does a magnificent job reinvigorating a still-life portrait of an all-but-forgotten maestra.”
— Booklist“Cullen richly draws her principal characters and their milieu, effectively transporting the reader back to sixteenth-century Italy and Spain.... Believable storytelling and wonderfully descriptive writing make The Creation of Eve a must-read for those who love historical fiction, especially if they also love art.”
— Newark Star-Ledger“An intoxicating tale of love, betrayal, and redemption. Cullen tackles the contradictions of the Renaissance and captures the dangerous spirit of the Inquisition while handling these vivid characters with prodigious control. The Creation of Eve is a historical romance that teaches as it touches.”
— Washington Post“The Creation of Eve [is a] lavishly detailed, sparkling re-creation. With this suspenseful, evocative tapestry of Renaissance life, art, and royal skullduggery, Lynn Cullen has made a skillful—and, with any luck, permanent—jump into adult fiction.”
— Atlanta Journal Constitution“Lynn Cullen weaves a glittering tapestry in The Creation of Eve, blending themes of art, gender, and politics into a provocative novel that feels surprisingly timely.”
— BookPage“A strong adult historical fiction debut for YA author Cullen...Highly recommended.”
— Library Journal“The Creation of Eve is above all the gorgeously written, beautifully structured story of Sofonisba Anguissola, an Italian Renaissance painter who happened to be both great and female. She is the staunchly intelligent narrator of Lynn Cullen’s complex, meticulously researched portrayal of the Court of Spain in the 1560’s, and a true heroine in her own right. This novel is a juicy plum from start to finish.”
— Kate Christensen, New York Times bestselling author of The Great Man“To read The Creation of Eve is to experience that wholly delicious bookish pleasure of total immersion...Enormously satisfying...I’m grateful to Cullen for the pleasures of such a splendid read.”
— Sara Gruen, New York Times bestselling author of Water for Elephants“A marvelous, rich, and compelling novel...I was unable to put [it] down.”
— Stephanie Cowell, author Marrying Mozart“The Creation of Eve takes readers to a fascinating time—the Renaissance—and introduces us to a remarkable woman, a talented artist neglected by history. Thanks to Lynn Cullen, Sofonisba Anguissola is now unforgettable.”
— Sharon Kay Penman, New York Times bestselling author“Through the keen eye of a painter trained in observation, we are drawn into the rarefied and restricted life of a queen and a court bristling with intrigue, jealousy, misplaced love, escape, and escapade—what could be more tantalizing? With rich visual description, Lynn Cullen secures her place in the tradition of regal historical fiction.”
— Susan Vreeland, New York Times bestselling author of Clara and Mr. Tiffany“Virginia Leishman masterfully brings to life the story of Sofonisba Anguissola, a largely unknown Italian Renaissance painter who studied under Michelangelo. Leishman’s modulated voice—cultured yet not overly aristocratic—perfectly matches Sofonisba’s character. Further, she breathes a vitality into the other characters that is not evident from the author’s words alone...Leishman’s skillful narration keeps the listener engrossed in Sofonisba and Elizabeth’s stories.”
— AudioFile" One of my all time favorite reads!!!! "
— Angie, 2/18/2014" Not everything that I would have hoped from this story. "
— Jennifer, 1/31/2014" I liked it, but the ending was somewhat disappointing. "
— Lauren, 1/28/2014" I actually enjoyed this book. I'm passing it on to my co-workers. "
— Allison, 1/19/2014" I loved this book!! I read it two settings "
— Angela, 1/14/2014" Really 3.5 stars. I hadn't known anything about Sofonisba prior to reading this book, but it made me eager to learn more about her art and life as one of the very few females painters of the Renaissance. "
— Krista, 1/14/2014" The historical background for this book really made it for me. "
— Katherine, 1/5/2014" A sensual and involving historical novel examining themes such as compromise, restraint and art in such a way that they resonate with relevance in the present. "
— Kel, 12/18/2013" I received this book from a giveaway on this site and really loved it. It was great to read about a real historical female who made her mark on the world. The book was well researched and filled with historical detail. The story was of great talent mixed with human frailty. "
— Leann, 12/5/2013" This is a fun book. It took me a while to get into the historical fiction because I kept trying to figure out what was accurate and what was not but once I got past that, it was a really pleasurable read. "
— Debra, 9/14/2013" Less court life, more painting, but interesting. "
— Nanette, 6/21/2013" kept waiting for something more to happen. The afterword was as interesting as the book. "
— Lynda, 7/25/2012" I love books that showcase otherwise neglected female historical figures, and Lynn Cullen's book on Sofonisba Anguissola does just that. The prose is overly dramatic at time, but it's a fun read about an interesting, talented woman who by all rights should be as famous as her male contemporaries. "
— Shannon, 11/9/2011" Enjoyable historical fiction. I was a fan of THE OTHER BOLEYN GIRL and find some similarities between these books. I always like when I learn something new from my pleasure reading, in this case Spanish and art history. "
— Georgann, 5/24/2011" Interesting to read about a talented woman painter during the renaissance period. "
— Francesca, 5/16/2011" Long. Doesn't flow too well. Doesn't seem to follow history. I like a historical novel to at least have more relevant historical facts. "
— Kendra, 2/7/2011" Really loved the story. Strong female characters in a time and place it is not culturally acceptable. Fiction based on historical fact with nice author notes at the end to help you determine what was real or fiction. "
— Mary, 7/20/2010Lynn Cullen is the author of Reign of Madness, which was a Best in the South selection by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and nominated for the Townsend Prize for fiction. Her previous novel, The Creation of Eve, was named among the best fiction books of 2010 by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and an April 2010 Indie Next Pick. She is also the author of numerous award-winning books for children, including the young adult novel I Am Rembrandt’s Daughter. An avid traveler and historian, Cullen lives in Atlanta.
Virginia Leishman successfully revived The Railway Children and other titles by E. Nesbit. She parses phrases carefully for nuance, and flavors dialogue with personality and spontaneity, as exemplified in her rendition of A. S. Byatt’s Possession. She has earned three AudioFile Earphones Awards.