Love, The Painter's Wife and The Queen of
Sheba tells two tales: that of the painter Piero della Francesca and his beloved wife,
Silvia, and that of the Queen of Sheba's journey to Jerusalem to meet King Solomon. It is Silvia, the painter's wife, who recounts the latter, magical tale, as a means to inspire her husband to remain in their home in Arezzo, rather than accept the lure of a papal invitation to work in
Rome. Silvia fears that if he leaves for the capital, it will not only destroy their love,
but it will eventually destroy Piero's great artistic talents. Like Scheherazade, Silvia tells Sheba's story to Piero in daily installments, and daily, as he is inspired, he continues his
work on a mural in Arezzo. The novel alternates between their lives in Renaissance Italy, and that of the Queen of Sheba. But as the great plague spreads to Arezzo, Silvia finds herself fighting for much greater stakes than simply the chance to complete her narrative. Aliette Armel immerses her readers in parallel, enchanting worlds.
About the Author
 ALIETTE ARMEL, a historian by training, is the critic of the Magazine Litteraire. She has written a biography of Michel Leiris, and made a trip to Yemen in 2000
to research this, her first novel. Allison Anderson translated the original French, Le voyage de Bilqis.
| |
The Critics Praise:
"A subtle encounter between the ancient Near East and the refinement of the fifteenth century. This
novel is well served by its colorful and subtle writing."
L'Express
"With delicacy and finesse in a subtly articulated double narrative, Aliette Armel succeeds in a
challenging first novel."
Le Monde
"A remarkable first novel."
24 Heures
|
