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The Birth of Venus
- Narrated by: Laurence Bouvard
- Length: 13 hrs and 36 mins
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The Birth of Venus
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Summary
Alessandra is not quite fifteen when her prosperous father brings a young painter back from Holland to adorn the new family chapel. Fascinated by his ability she is lured into closer involvement. On the streets of Florence she observes a terrible evil stalking the city and a fiery priest, who has set out to rid the city of vice, even art itself.
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What listeners say about The Birth of Venus
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Linda
- 31-01-16
Descriptive but frustrating
One can never be sure with a Sarah Dunant novel whether you will adore it or struggle with it. For me the Birth of Venus fell into the latter category. No one could fault the way Sarah Dunant conjures up the look and feel of Florence and its residents through a time of tumultuous change but oh I found the characters irritating and the central thread of the plot rather pointless. Many a time I almost gave up on this book which is most unusual for me. I nevertheless soldiered on and I obviously cared enough about the characters to want to know the end - but I'm afraid not a 5 star listen for me.
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4 people found this helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance2 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- liz
- 31-10-20
How a book is performed
I quite like this story that’s why I heard it all ...but I am sorry the reader although thankfully the narrater voice was ok all other characters were not ...I don’t understand surely there is a someone to produce direct ? I am listening at the moment to Juliet Stevenson the comparison is palpable..I listen A LOT I love it and sometimes I don’t like the reader but that’s a matter of taste but this time it truly was the performance that wasn’t good enough I hope this isn’t harsh too harsh but I feel needed to be said your sincerely Elizabeth Lewis
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- E Dawson
- 07-02-24
Easy listen and well put together
I liked the way the story came together and I liked her maid. Good description of that period of time in Florence,.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Nichole DeMichelis
- 25-07-17
Where's Botticelli?
Any additional comments?
Botticelli's painting is on the cover, it's called the Birth of Venus, and yet Botticelli barely makes a cameo. Instead, we get to hear about a later Renaissance painter, known for his broody Christianity, but his entire narrative is completely historically inaccurate. Like, every detail. It wasn't historic fiction so much as fiction in an alternate universe that resembles Renaissance Florence.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Annie
- 12-08-19
I Really Enjoyed This Book!
We meet Alessandra as a fourteen year old girl. Her father has brings back a young painter, from Holland. His task is to paint the new family chapel.
Ever questioning, loving art, she becomes involved in his life.
Both of them become swept up by the force, that is set to sweep through Flanders.
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Helen
- 29-04-24
Poor narration
I have read this book a few times so was looking forward to the audible version but I didn't like the narrators voice . I tried to keep listening but it was awful, is she American, it didn't sound right, she pronounced herbs as erbs. I kept getting distracted and couldn't get past the first few chapters.
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