Mona Lisa: A Life Discovered

As a former New Yorker and an old Italy hand--I am a professional translator Italian>English, have lived in Italy for decades, and am a novelist myself (Kindle, Verdi's Dream), I can be quite harsh judging novels set in Italy, books about Italy from an often naive or starry-eyed foreigner's point of view, and books on Italian history (particularly on the Italian Renaissance,my favorite period). This book, which I came to quite serendipitously through a FB reference, just blew me away, however. It brings the glorious Italian Renaissance to life, from the personalities to the dress codes to the aromas and sometimes the stench of the vias and vicolos, to the unfathomable genius of Leonardo. Of course it is quite a task simply to get the research about Florence and its golden age right--which the author has done. I felt as though I were with her at every discovery, in every archive, in every courtyard of that incredible city. Some may think there is too much Italian in the book--but I love it, because instead of trying (and of course it would mean failure) to explain certain Italian terms, the author leaves them in context and we must fend for ourselves in context. This is as it should be, I think. All of this means that I come away from each reading (and I haven't finished the book yet and don't want to--then I will have to close this particular door on the Renaissance) knowing the Mona Lisa no better than before, but understanding better where she came from, what her life must have been, and the regard in which her genius portraitist held her. This is a completely lovely book, unpretentious and so knowledgable. The author is as spellbinding and capable a storyteller as she is an historian.

Author Dianne Hales's "Mona Lisa: A Life Discovered" is an excellent story of painter and subject; of a canvas and the world in which it was painted. It is Florence in the late 1400's/early 1500's, the ultimate "Renaissance Man" Leonardo Da Vinci, and, Mona Lisa Gherardini del Gioconda.Dianne Hales has tracked down and written about the real Mona Lisa. The records of her existence are available in files and books in Florence and Hales has put them together in a book. Part of the book is factual - dates and marriage and children - but some is conjecture about Lisa Gheraradini's thoughts and actions. Hales couches her wording, using terms like "could have" and "might have", which softens the conjecture for the reader. She has learned enough about Lisa - her family, both birth and marital - and combining that with information about Florentine history - both social and governmental - gives the reader an encompassing view of the woman and her world.But Dianne Hales also looks at both the painter, Leonardo, and his life, as well as the long life of the canvas. From Leonardo's possession to that of French royalty, to finally life in the Louvre, the "Mona Lisa" has been in French hands since the early 1500s. Except, of course, for life on-the-run as a kidnap victim in 1911; the painting was returned to the museum in 1913, only leaving it again under careful chaperonage.Dianne Hales' book reveals the woman behind the face in the painting. It's a marvelously readable book. And if you like reading about paintings and their subjects, pick up Carola Hick's "Girl in a Green Gown: The History and Mystery of the Arnolfini Portrait".

I got this book to assist my 10 year old daughter on a "Faces of History" project she did through our homeschool community (Classical Conversations).It was above her reading level and with some adult content (some just complicated stuff and some regarding sexual relationships of the time -mild content, just not stuff for 10 year olds). So I read sections that pertained to her report and through others to help find more information.My daughter wrote on the main theme that there must have been something special about Lisa Gherardini del Giocondo if:•her father would sell off some of his family pride (land) when they had so little left to their claim of nobiity/landed gentry to secure her marriage;•if her husband married her with no dowry and just a small plot of land worth much less than a proper dowry;•if Leonardo chose to paint her portrait while turning down the commissions of royalty•If Leonardo's portrait of her has captivated people so greatly and for so longThe books is fascinating and I loved the ins and outs of the adventure Dianne Hales takes us on as we discover intimate details of Lisa's life and her time and place in history. It's what some would call "a living book" -such a refreshing break from the boring and dull accounts found in textbooks and most other reference books we could find.I did not read it straight through, but plan to (soon). What I did read, through (at least half of it) was fantastic.If you want information about the most likely woman of the famous portrait, want a great look at life in Florence in the mid 1500s to mid 1600s, or looking for just a good history and travel based read -get this book!

Great geographical and historical facts for anyone interested in learning more about Florence and that period of time in depth.

Another fine work by Dianne Hales. I'd read "La Bella Lingua" with great pleasure, as I'm a linguist and a speaker of Italian. If you're in to language, it's a must-read! "Mona Lisa" deftly weaves the lives of Leonardo da Vinci and Mona Lisa (largely extrapolated from bios of other women of the period) with the history of the Renaissance. A sheer pleasure of a read...

Fascinating and enjoyably written. I have no great interest in Leonardo and have never quite understand the appeal of the Mona Lisa, but this brought the world of women in Renaissance Florence to life.

Dianne Hayes is an excellant writer who can make reading this history entertaining as well as informative of the period of Leonardo Da Vinci, Florence and of course Mona Lisa. I really enjoyed her book "La Bella Lingua" and when I saw this book I had to order it immediately! A eccellant journey for those that love Italy,art, history and or just a very good read!

I first discovered and fell in love with Dianne Hales' writing through La Bella Lingua, which shares her story and her love of the Italian language, and I anxiously awaited the release of her latest book, Mona Lisa: A Life Discovered. I highly recommend this book, which reads like historical fiction and takes us through real events in the life of Lisa Gherardini and Leonardo da Vinci. Hales also places us readers in the midst of Renaissance Florence with her well-researched historical details and fluid writing. Anyone who has an interest in art, Italy, history, or the Renaissance will love this book! Buona lettera! Happy reading!

Excellent!!!

Interesting story although more than some of it speculative. What is astounding is the book is totally devoid of images.