Marchesa

Sarah Dunant studied history at Newnham College, Cambridge from where she went on to become a writer, broadcaster, teacher and critic. She has written twelve novels, four of which have been short-listed for awards, and edited two books of essays. She worked for many years for the BBC in radio and television including BBC 2 TV's arts programme, 'The Late Show' and Radio 3's 'Nightwaves'. More recently she wrote and presented a monthly history show for Radio 4, 'When Greeks Flew Kites' and is a regular contributor to 'A Point of View'. She also featured as an expert in the BBC2 'Renaissance: the Blood and the Beauty' drama-documentary series which broadcast in December 2024. She is an accredited lecturer with The Arts Society, lecturing on Italian history and renaissance art, has taught renaissance studies at Washington University, St Louis and creative writing at University of Oxford Brookes, from where she was awarded an honorary doctorate for her services to higher education and literature. Her most recent five novels, set within the Italian renaissance, weave cutting edge historical scholarship into fiction, have become international bestsellers and have been translated into thirty languages.

'An utterly fascinating portrayal of a formidable and brilliant woman wielding power in the complex turmoil of the political landscape of Renaissance Italy - a woman who is irrepressible even in death.' Jennifer Saint, Sunday Times bestselling author of Ariadne and Hera'What distinguishes and elevates to the first order Sarah Dunant's series of five novels set in Renaissance Italy is that she combines flawless historical scholarship with beguiling storytelling.' Guardian'Dunant makes the art and philosophy of the period look new and dangerous again.' The Times'Dunant has made completely her own the story of the Italy's most infamous ruling family ... in a way that we can see, hear and smell.' Guardian'Dunant has a storyteller's instincts for thrilling detail and the broad sweep of history. This, and her glorious prose, make Dunant's version irresistible.' The Times