The Marriage Portrait

O’Farrell (Hamnet), winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award and the Women’s Prize for Fiction, has written another compelling story based on Lucrezia de’ Medici, who lived during the 16th century. Lucrezia is a precocious and curious young woman, a bright student, and a gifted painter. When her older sister, Maria, suddenly dies before her wedding to Alfonso II, Duke of Ferrara, Lucrezia, who is only 15, is forced to take her place as Alfonso’s bride. When she is 16, Lucrezia must leave her safe but confining home and move to Ferrara to marry the duke. As soon as she arrives in Ferrara and spends time with the politically ruthless and cruel duke, she realizes that her life is in mortal danger, as she is expected to produce an heir, but it is apparent that the duke is infertile. Genevieve Gaunt engages the listener with her emotional and expressive narration, adding depth to this historical figure and her battle for survival.