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Book Review of In the Company of the Courtesan

In the Company of the Courtesan
Helpful Score: 3


I have been to Venice, the setting of Dunant's masterful historical fiction work, but it has been a few years. With Dunant's vibrant descriptions, however, I was transported back there instantly from my living room. The characters are far from stock; they each breath a life of their own. This was one book I was sad to finish. I felt as if I were losing a friend in Bucino. I highly recommend it, even to history buffs. Many events and people are fictional, but many others are also based on research (see Dunant's afterword and bibliography.) The book is highly entertaining and you may find yourself learning a few things about the life of a Venetian courtesan and her affiliates in the process. Definitely recommend.