The Shepherdess of Siena, Linda Lafferty
The Shepherdess of Siena, Linda Lafferty
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The Shepherdess of Siena
A Novel of Renaissance Tuscany

Author: Linda Lafferty

Narrator: Mary Robinette Kowal

Unabridged: 14 hr 19 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download (DRM Protected)

Published: 03/31/2015

Synopsis

Raised by her aunt and uncle amidst the rolling hills of the Tuscan countryside, young orphan Virginia Tacci has always harbored a deep love for horses—though she knows she may never have the chance to ride. As a shepherdess in sixteenth-century Italy, Virginia’s possibilities are doubly limited by her peasant class and her gender. Yet while she tends her flock, Virginia is captivated by the daring equestrian feats of the high-spirited Isabella De’ Medici, who rides with the strength and courage of any man, much to the horror of her brother, the tyrannical Gran Duca Francesco De’ Medici.Inspired, the young shepherdess keeps one dream close to her heart: to race in Siena’s Palio. Twenty-six years after Florence captured Siena, Virginia’s defiance will rally the broken spirit of the Senese people and threaten the pernicious reign of the Gran Duca. Bringing alive the rich history of one of Tuscany’s most famed cities, this lush, captivating saga draws an illuminating portrait of one girl with an unbreakable spirit.

About Linda Lafferty

Linda Lafferty taught in public education for nearly three decades, in schools from the American School of Madrid to the Boulder Valley schools to the Aspen school district. She completed her PhD in bilingual special education and went on to work in that field, as well as teaching English as a second language and bilingual American history. Horses are Linda’s first love, and she rode on the University of Lancaster’s riding team for a year in England. As a teenager, her uncle introduced her to the sport of polo, and she played in her first polo tournament when she was seventeen. Linda also loves Siena, Italy, and the people of the region and has returned to the city half a dozen times in the past three years to research her novel. Linda is the author of three previous novels: The Bloodletter’s Daughter, The Drowning Guard, and House of Bathory. She lives in Colorado with her husband.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Italo on March 19, 2015

The Shepherdess of Siena: A Novel of Renaissance Tuscany is actually a saga of Renaissance Tuscany. This epic saga of nearly 600 pages recounts the popular and scandalizing stories linked to the de' Medici royal family, the Grand Dukes of Tuscany at the beginning of their royal-ness, and how they af......more

Goodreads review by Mirella on April 16, 2015

Author Linda Lafferty propels readers into the Italian Renaissance in the Tuscany Region. It is an epic saga and adventure, a wonderfully rich and complex story with many layers and fascinating characters. The story surrounds a young, innocent shepherdess who develops a strong fondness for horses an......more

Goodreads review by Roland on May 17, 2018

Review 4.3 stars A Historical novel with horses and set primarily in Tuscany was a Must Read, and it proved enjoyable. Virginia Tacci is the young shepherdess that loves horses and wants to ride – something that few women in the sixteenth-century can do on an even playing field with men. Even those fr......more

Goodreads review by Debbi on March 01, 2015

(thank you NetFGalley for an early release copy) This is Linda Lafferty's best book yet! I rarely give a five star review, but I loved this book! The Shepherdess of Siena is the story of Virginia Tacci, the first woman (actually girl, she was 14 at the time) to compete in the famous Palio of Siena. Th......more

Quotes

“From the hills of Tuscany, to the streets of Siena, to the hidden abbeys and convents scattered throughout the area, this is one story that kept me spellbound to the very end. Betrayal, murder, kidnapping, love, and much, much more fill every page. Definitely a tale for the horse lover in all of us.” —Historical Novel Review“An epic and richly textured tale of Renaissance Tuscany...If you enjoy really good historical fiction, stories that move and snap with life, stories that make you feel deeply for the characters and their struggles, then you will love [The Shepherdess of Siena].” —Aspen Daily News“The Shepherdess of Siena is a lengthy, involving read that drew me in at once and which, it turns out, is based on a true heroine of Siena. Long may she ride.” —Fresh Fiction

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