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“Beautifully imagined...Ongoing references to the Spanish Inquisition and the life of the controversial Michelangelo add depth to this rich story.”
— Publishers Weekly
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“[A] finely textured fictional biography...Cullen does a magnificent job reinvigorating a still-life portrait of an all-but-forgotten maestra.”
— Booklist
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“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
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“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
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“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
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“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
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“A strong adult historical fiction debut for YA author Cullen...Highly recommended.”
— Library Journal
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“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
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“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
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“A marvelous, rich, and compelling novel...I was unable to put [it] down.”
— Stephanie Cowell, author Marrying Mozart
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“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
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“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
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“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