Set in Florence at the height of the Black Death, this novel tells the story of a woman who returns from banishment to help save the city and uncover a conspiracy. As the author explains, this book is “historical fiction with a bit of magic, a bit of mystery, and lots of dark humor.”
To try to capture what it was like to be alive at this place and time, I focused my research on writings that are contemporary-ish to the story, including the usual suspects of the brothers Villani, Petrarch, Dante, and of course, Boccaccio’s The Decameron. For the latter, I relied on Wayne A. Rebhorn’s clever translation, and did my best to give my own characters a similarly modern parlance. I also took great inspiration from The Merchant of Prato by Iris Origo, and the merchant’s long-suffering wife, Margherita. Writings by the Pope’s physician, Guy de Chauliac, and many others provided firsthand accounts of the Great Mortality. The Society of Renaissance Florence, a collection of translated records edited by Gene Brucker, illustrated the daily trials and tribulations of Florentine life.
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The religious works of Fra Simone Fidati da Cascia, translated by Sister Mary Germaine McNeil, and the famous medical treatise by Trotula of Salerno brought additional context. From these works and others, I borrowed delightful old idioms like “men who could not govern three snails” and “you lie in your throat.” The manifestos of Margery Kempe and Christine de Pizan gave precious and rare insights into the minds of late-medieval women.
Who is this book for?
Medievalists will appreciate this novel’s attention to historical detail, as the author has clearly taken the time to research the setting, adding an extra layer of realism. The story will appeal to readers drawn to medieval Italy, a touch of magic, or a compelling female protagonist.
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The Author
Anna Rasche is a historian and gemologist who has previously worked in the jewelry collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This is her debut novel. You can follow Anna on Instagram, TikTok or Facebook.
We asked the author why she wrote this book:
As a jewelry historian and gemologist, a large part of my day-to-day is researching the history and provenance of different gemstones, so The Stone Witch of Florence grew out of this area of study. A lot of the pieces I work with are actually Victorian, and I love tracing 19th-century traditions (for example, coral as a protective amulet for children) to their often-medieval origins. Separate from gems, the Middle Ages have always been one of those periods that captivates me (perhaps you can relate?). I live in NYC, and whenever I’m able to visit The Cloisters, or step into one of the many Gothic Revival churches near my home in Brooklyn, a part of me just feels some sort of kinetic pull. I suppose writing Stone Witch was an excuse to fully explore this fascination.
The Stone Witch of Florence
By Anna Rasche
Park Row Books
ISBN: 978-0-7783-1045-7
Set in Florence at the height of the Black Death, this novel tells the story of a woman who returns from banishment to help save the city and uncover a conspiracy. As the author explains, this book is “historical fiction with a bit of magic, a bit of mystery, and lots of dark humor.”
Excerpt from the Author’s Note:
To try to capture what it was like to be alive at this place and time, I focused my research on writings that are contemporary-ish to the story, including the usual suspects of the brothers Villani, Petrarch, Dante, and of course, Boccaccio’s The Decameron. For the latter, I relied on Wayne A. Rebhorn’s clever translation, and did my best to give my own characters a similarly modern parlance. I also took great inspiration from The Merchant of Prato by Iris Origo, and the merchant’s long-suffering wife, Margherita. Writings by the Pope’s physician, Guy de Chauliac, and many others provided firsthand accounts of the Great Mortality. The Society of Renaissance Florence, a collection of translated records edited by Gene Brucker, illustrated the daily trials and tribulations of Florentine life.
The religious works of Fra Simone Fidati da Cascia, translated by Sister Mary Germaine McNeil, and the famous medical treatise by Trotula of Salerno brought additional context. From these works and others, I borrowed delightful old idioms like “men who could not govern three snails” and “you lie in your throat.” The manifestos of Margery Kempe and Christine de Pizan gave precious and rare insights into the minds of late-medieval women.
Who is this book for?
Medievalists will appreciate this novel’s attention to historical detail, as the author has clearly taken the time to research the setting, adding an extra layer of realism. The story will appeal to readers drawn to medieval Italy, a touch of magic, or a compelling female protagonist.
The Author
Anna Rasche is a historian and gemologist who has previously worked in the jewelry collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This is her debut novel. You can follow Anna on Instagram, TikTok or Facebook.
We asked the author why she wrote this book:
As a jewelry historian and gemologist, a large part of my day-to-day is researching the history and provenance of different gemstones, so The Stone Witch of Florence grew out of this area of study. A lot of the pieces I work with are actually Victorian, and I love tracing 19th-century traditions (for example, coral as a protective amulet for children) to their often-medieval origins. Separate from gems, the Middle Ages have always been one of those periods that captivates me (perhaps you can relate?). I live in NYC, and whenever I’m able to visit The Cloisters, or step into one of the many Gothic Revival churches near my home in Brooklyn, a part of me just feels some sort of kinetic pull. I suppose writing Stone Witch was an excuse to fully explore this fascination.
You can learn more about this book from the publisher’s website
You can buy this book on Amazon.com | Amazon.ca | Amazon.co.uk
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