Leonardo's Swans – A Review
On Karen Essex's Historical Fiction Novel
Jul 1, 2009 Katherine Kuzma-Beck
Essex opens her novel just like many other authors have done before her, with two feuding sisters who rival for the sexual attention of the men hat they are to be married off to. The beautiful Isabella is to be married to the handsome and appealing Francesco Gonzaga while the tomboyish Beatrice is set to be married to Ludovico Sforza, regent to the duke of Milan. Isabella is pleased with this arrangement. Though her future husband may not be the most powerful man in Italy, he is handsome, worldly and an important solider while the regent to the duke of Milan is rumored to be old– nearly 40 and morally inept.
Plot Twist
The twist comes when Isabella finds herself increasingly drawn to Ludovico Sforza who, keeping the true Duke of Milan, his nephew, Francesco Gonzaga envisions to recreate Milan as an artistic capitol. Part of the large attraction to Ludovico is his court painter, Leonardo da Vinci. Isabella having found passion in her own marriage, still continues an affair with Ludovico which does make for several intense scenes throughout the novel.
Da Vinci's Role
Da Vinci's role in the novel is heabily down played which is a shame as Essex does do a great job of putting the reader into the mind of the artist thus showing the inner worker's of a man who though brillant, could not finish most of what he had started before he was off on his next adventure. His presence in the novel feeds into the explanation behind the Virgin of the Rocks which is a pleasure to learn about.
The Downside
Essex's work, beyond the limitations she placed on the fictional version of Da Vinci, falls short in another aspect as well. For the first half of the book, Isabella and Beatrice are full of life and figuring out who they are in heavily sweeping dramatic scenes that have the sisters swept up in a game of sex and 15th century Italian politics, but then all too soon, the book shifts and each sister returns faithfully and quietly to their husbands with little fanfare.
Overall, Essex sticks almost verbatim to the historical events of the time, with little, if any diversion into the creative gray area. It is what limits the book, though she should be admired for having done her research as solidly as she had.
Leonardo's Swans is available for purchase through Anchor Publishing with ISBN 0767923065.
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