WOMEN'S PRIZE FOR FICTION FINALIST • REESE’S BOOK CLUB PICK • NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLER • The author of award-winning Hamnet brings the world of Renaissance Italy to jewel-bright life in this unforgettable fictional portrait of the captivating young duchess Lucrezia de' Medici as she makes her way in a troubled court. “I could not stop reading this incredible true story.” —Reese Witherspoon (Reese’s Book Club Pick) "O’Farrell pulls out little threads of historical detail to weave this story of a precocious girl sensitive to the contradictions of her station...You may know the history, and you may think you know what’s coming, but don’t be so sure." —The Washington Post Florence, the 1550s. Lucrezia, third daughter of the grand duke, is comfortable with her obscure place in the palazzo: free to wonder at its treasures, observe its clandestine workings, and devote herself to her own artistic pursuits. But when her older sister dies on the eve of her wedding to the ruler of Ferrara, Modena and Reggio, Lucrezia is thrust unwittingly into the limelight: the duke is quick to request her hand in marriage, and her father just as quick to accept on her behalf. Having barely left girlhood behind, Lucrezia must now enter an unfamiliar court whose customs are opaque and where her arrival is not universally welcomed. Perhaps most mystifying of all is her new husband himself, Alfonso. Is he the playful sophisticate he appeared to be before their wedding, the aesthete happiest in the company of artists and musicians, or the ruthless politician before whom even his formidable sisters seem to tremble? As Lucrezia sits in constricting finery for a painting intended to preserve her image for centuries to come, one thing becomes worryingly clear. In the court’s eyes, she has one duty: to provide the heir who will shore up the future of the Ferranese dynasty. Until then, for all of her rank and nobility, the new duchess’s future hangs entirely in the balance. Full of the beauty and emotion with which she illuminated the Shakespearean canvas of Hamnet, Maggie O’Farrell turns her talents to Renaissance Italy in an extraordinary portrait of a resilient young woman’s battle for her very survival.
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About the author
Maggie O'Farrell
Author
Maggie O'Farrell FRSL is a novelist from Northern Ireland. Her acclaimed first novel, After You'd Gone, won the Betty Trask Award and a later one, The Hand That First Held Mine, the 2010 Costa Novel Award. She has twice been shortlisted since for the Costa Novel Award for Instructions for a Heatwave in 2014 and This Must Be The Place in 2017. Her memoir I Am, I Am, I Am: Seventeen Brushes with Death reached the top of the Sunday Times bestseller list. Her novel Hamnet won the Women's Prize for Fiction in 2020, and the fiction prize at the 2020 National Book Critics Circle Awards. Her 2022 historical novel The Marriage Portrait was shortlisted for the 2023 Women's Prize for Fiction.
The Marriage Portrait: Reese's Book Club
by Maggie O'Farrell
Books Like The Marriage Portrait: Reese's Book Club
If you're looking for books similar to The Marriage Portrait: Reese's Book Club, here are some recommendations based on themes, tone, and narrative style.
Wolf Hall
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A masterful historical novel set in Tudor England, focusing on Thomas Cromwell's rise to power. Mantel's intricate portrayal of court politics and personal relationships mirrors the complex world of Renaissance Italy depicted in The Marriage Portrait. The novel offers a deep dive into historical intrigue, power dynamics, and individual survival within a challenging social environment.
Hamnet
Maggie O'Farrell
Another historical novel by the same author, exploring the life of Shakespeare's family. Set in Stratford-upon-Avon, the book delves into the personal tragedy of losing a child and the emotional landscape of 16th-century domestic life. O'Farrell's lyrical prose and deep historical research shine through, offering a similar intimate portrait of a woman's experience in a challenging historical context.
The Nightingale
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A historical novel set during World War II, exploring the experiences of two sisters in Nazi-occupied France. The book delves into themes of survival, resistance, and female strength. Hannah's narrative offers a powerful exploration of women's experiences in challenging historical contexts, resonating with the themes of The Marriage Portrait.
The Pillars of the Earth
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An epic historical novel set in 12th-century England, detailing the construction of a cathedral and the intricate social dynamics of medieval society. The book offers a sweeping narrative that, like The Marriage Portrait, explores power structures, personal ambition, and individual struggles within a complex historical context. Follett's meticulous historical research and character-driven storytelling provide a similar immersive experience.
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A historical novel set during World War I, focusing on female spies and their remarkable stories. The book explores women's resilience and agency in challenging historical contexts. Quinn's narrative offers a powerful portrayal of women navigating complex social and political landscapes, similar to the themes in The Marriage Portrait.
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A historical novel following a young man's journey through medieval Europe, exploring themes of personal transformation and societal constraints. The book offers a rich historical backdrop and a compelling narrative of individual growth. Gordon's detailed historical research and character development provide a similar immersive experience to The Marriage Portrait.
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A historical novel set in Victorian England, exploring scientific discovery, superstition, and personal transformation. The book offers a rich narrative that examines social constraints and individual desires. Perry's intricate storytelling and historical detail provide a similar immersive experience to The Marriage Portrait.
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A historical novel that reimagines the life of a woman in biblical times, exploring themes of female agency and personal identity. The protagonist seeks to define herself within a patriarchal society, echoing the struggles of women in historical contexts. Kidd's narrative offers a powerful exploration of a woman's inner life and her quest for self-determination.
The Mercies
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A historical novel set in 17th-century Norway, exploring a community of women surviving in a harsh environment. The book delves into themes of female solidarity, survival, and resistance against societal constraints. Hargrave's narrative offers a powerful portrayal of women's experiences in a challenging historical context.
The Golem and the Jinni
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A historical fantasy novel set in turn-of-the-century New York, exploring themes of identity, belonging, and personal transformation. The book offers a unique narrative of two mythical creatures navigating human society. Wecker's rich storytelling and exploration of individual experience provide a resonant companion to The Marriage Portrait.
The Other Boleyn Girl
Philippa Gregory
A compelling historical novel set in the Tudor court, focusing on the complex dynamics of royal families and women's limited agency. The story follows Mary Boleyn and her tumultuous relationship with King Henry VIII, exploring themes of power, manipulation, and survival. Gregory's rich historical detail and focus on female perspectives make it a natural companion to O'Farrell's Renaissance narrative.
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A unique novel exploring a woman's struggle for identity and survival across centuries. The protagonist makes a supernatural bargain that allows her to live forever but ensures she will be forgotten by everyone she meets. Schwab's narrative offers a compelling exploration of individual agency and personal resilience.
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Set in 17th-century Amsterdam, this novel explores a young woman's experience in a restrictive society. The protagonist navigates complex social expectations and personal challenges, similar to Lucrezia's journey. Burton's rich historical detail and focus on a woman's inner life create a narrative that resonates with the themes of constraint and resilience in The Marriage Portrait.
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