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Gioconda: A Novel of Leonardo da Vinci
A solitary child, Leonardo's only intimate is Lisa Gherardini, the girl who spies on him in his workshop. Spurned by his tutor, he is sent by his despairing father to Florence as an apprentice. Under the guiding hand of Verrocchio, the master sculptor, he begins to make his name. But success requires sacrifice; Florence demands a level of conformity impossible for him. Forced to leave, Leonardo places himself at the service of the charismatic, power-thirsty Duke of Milan. His journey leads him back to Lisa and the portrait he has waited so long to paint, the culmination of his life's work.
From the glittering court of the Medici to the mortuaries of Milan and the battlefields of the Po valley, Lucille Turner's powerful novel vividly imagines Leonardo's lonely struggle to convince others of his vision of the world.
From the glittering court of the Medici to the mortuaries of Milan and the battlefields of the Po valley, Lucille Turner's powerful novel vividly imagines Leonardo's lonely struggle to convince others of his vision of the world.
304 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2011
6 people are currently reading
735 people want to read
About the author
Lucille Turner
6 books61 followersLUCILLE TURNER’s first book, "Gioconda", was published by Granta Books in 2011 and was described in The Financial Times as, ‘A lush, evocative and remarkably accomplished debut novel’. Gioconda was about the life of Renaissance genius Leonardo da Vinci; it went on to win the Hislibris prize for historical fiction and was translated into several languages. Her second historical novel, "The Sultan, the Vampyr and the Soothsayer", has recently been awarded a prize in the Best Fiction category of the Independent Publisher Book Awards 2017. Lucille reviews books for Bookmunch at https://bookmunch.wordpress.com. A fan of Big History and Ancient Mythology, she comes from Dorset, England and blogs about historical fiction at www.lucilleturner.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
December 14, 2016
I liked this a lot, thus I knew immediately it deserved four stars. It is historical fiction and it does what I think historical fiction should do. It gets you into the head of the main character, which is here Leonardo da Vinci. In my view, if a reader is primarily looking for historical details and facts one might as well turn to non-fiction. What historical fiction can do and which is often not attainable when relying solely on historical data is to reveal the thoughts, feelings and emotions of a person. A talented author of historical fiction can do this by first carrying out a thorough study of the known facts. With then a deep understanding of the person, using empathy, creativity and imagination they can recreate thoughts and dreams and fictive dialog that feel utterly real. THIS is a true art. It is not merely a collection of facts, but provides a deeper understanding of what made that particular person tick. This is what Lucille Turner has done with Leonardo da Vinci.
In this book you understand the man; you don’t merely understand, you get into his head! If instead you are looking for emphasis on history and precise details describing the world of Leonardo da Vinci I wholeheartedly recommend The Agony and the Ecstasy by Irving Stone. I gave that four stars too. I am not implying that the historical details are incorrectly presented in Turner’s book; they are simply not the main focus. Two different approaches, two different levels of information are provided, two different emphases. If you haven’t read anything about da Vinci and the Italian city states of the Renaissance, start here with Turner. Then you will want more and can turn to Stone’s book.
I do have one complaint though. No I guess there are actually two, although neither destroys my enjoyment in reading the book. Gioconda, Lisa Gherardini (1479 – 1542) who today is thought to be the woman portrayed by Leonardo da Vinci (1452 – 1519) in his famed Mona Lisa, is not the central focus of the book; the title is misleading. Mona Lisa is called La Jaconda in France and La Gioconda in Italian. The painting was commissioned by Lisa’s husband, the Florentine silk merchant Francesco del Giocondo. In 1516 Leonardo came to work for the French King Francis I and it is in France that the painting is believed to have been completed. It was bought by Francis I after Leonardo’s death. After the French Revolution it came to be housed at the Louvre. The book ends with Leonardo’s departure from Italy with the painting not fully completed. Lisa’s presence scarcely figures in the novel. Secondly, I totally discount the idea that Leonardo met and was attracted to Lisa at a young age. Their friendship, drawn in the book , is not credible. Look at the age difference.
The narration by Mark Meadows was also very good. Easy to follow, even if you have difficulty snapping up Italian names. It is so very nice when a narrator doesn’t get in the way of appreciating a good book.
It is an utter shame that no one is talking about this book! You get a feel for the Italian Renaissance, rub shoulders with Lorenzo de’ Medici, the Dominican friar Girolamo Savonarola and Niccolò Machiavelli and most importantly get a glimpse into the remarkable mind of the polymath Leonardo da Vinci.
In this book you understand the man; you don’t merely understand, you get into his head! If instead you are looking for emphasis on history and precise details describing the world of Leonardo da Vinci I wholeheartedly recommend The Agony and the Ecstasy by Irving Stone. I gave that four stars too. I am not implying that the historical details are incorrectly presented in Turner’s book; they are simply not the main focus. Two different approaches, two different levels of information are provided, two different emphases. If you haven’t read anything about da Vinci and the Italian city states of the Renaissance, start here with Turner. Then you will want more and can turn to Stone’s book.
I do have one complaint though. No I guess there are actually two, although neither destroys my enjoyment in reading the book. Gioconda, Lisa Gherardini (1479 – 1542) who today is thought to be the woman portrayed by Leonardo da Vinci (1452 – 1519) in his famed Mona Lisa, is not the central focus of the book; the title is misleading. Mona Lisa is called La Jaconda in France and La Gioconda in Italian. The painting was commissioned by Lisa’s husband, the Florentine silk merchant Francesco del Giocondo. In 1516 Leonardo came to work for the French King Francis I and it is in France that the painting is believed to have been completed. It was bought by Francis I after Leonardo’s death. After the French Revolution it came to be housed at the Louvre. The book ends with Leonardo’s departure from Italy with the painting not fully completed. Lisa’s presence scarcely figures in the novel. Secondly, I totally discount the idea that Leonardo met and was attracted to Lisa at a young age. Their friendship, drawn in the book , is not credible. Look at the age difference.
The narration by Mark Meadows was also very good. Easy to follow, even if you have difficulty snapping up Italian names. It is so very nice when a narrator doesn’t get in the way of appreciating a good book.
It is an utter shame that no one is talking about this book! You get a feel for the Italian Renaissance, rub shoulders with Lorenzo de’ Medici, the Dominican friar Girolamo Savonarola and Niccolò Machiavelli and most importantly get a glimpse into the remarkable mind of the polymath Leonardo da Vinci.
June 20, 2014
My favourite book of the year so far! As a fan of Renaissance Art, I looked forward to reading Gioconda but was not expecting to be so enchanted with it. It drew me in from page one and the momentum didn't let up until sadly, I reached the final page.
Fiction, based around known facts, Lucille Turner has created a beautiful, evocative and sensitive suggestion of Leonardo's emerging genius from his life as a small boy through to his creation of surely, the world's most acclaimed painting. He meets Lisa in the countryside around his home when, as a young boy he is already seeking to understand the world around him. Even then the reader gets a feel for her rather enigmatic ways. Lisa is only sketchily in the background for most of the book, although La Gioconda is always the one he knows he will paint.
His insatiable and frantic quest for the knowledge to understand the natural world; his desire to examine causes of disease to help treat it; his belief that everything is governed by mathematics; that all things are possible with the correct information; all of these are described from Leonardo's point of view in a way that brings him to life on every page.
I was in awe of the way his thought processes and 'light bulb' moments were written with such skill, as was the political and social background of the time. Beautiful poetic writing, I cannot praise it highly enough.
Fiction, based around known facts, Lucille Turner has created a beautiful, evocative and sensitive suggestion of Leonardo's emerging genius from his life as a small boy through to his creation of surely, the world's most acclaimed painting. He meets Lisa in the countryside around his home when, as a young boy he is already seeking to understand the world around him. Even then the reader gets a feel for her rather enigmatic ways. Lisa is only sketchily in the background for most of the book, although La Gioconda is always the one he knows he will paint.
His insatiable and frantic quest for the knowledge to understand the natural world; his desire to examine causes of disease to help treat it; his belief that everything is governed by mathematics; that all things are possible with the correct information; all of these are described from Leonardo's point of view in a way that brings him to life on every page.
I was in awe of the way his thought processes and 'light bulb' moments were written with such skill, as was the political and social background of the time. Beautiful poetic writing, I cannot praise it highly enough.
August 5, 2012
I think this is an extraordinarily underrated book.
Far, far better written than most historical novels. When I compare it with most of the tripe that sells well it says rather depressing things about the average reader.
And bizarrely, it's about Da Vinci. Not the one in the dopey Code. The real one. And with a very plausible suggestion as to whom the lady with the smile may have been.
If you want to get an idea of what he was probably like, what it was like to live in his times, and what inspired him I think this author does an amazing job.
The description of his childhood and the surroundings and events that led to his later work is extremely well.
Thoroughly recommended if you're interested in more than the usual page-turner with laughable quasi-historical dialogue.
Far, far better written than most historical novels. When I compare it with most of the tripe that sells well it says rather depressing things about the average reader.
And bizarrely, it's about Da Vinci. Not the one in the dopey Code. The real one. And with a very plausible suggestion as to whom the lady with the smile may have been.
If you want to get an idea of what he was probably like, what it was like to live in his times, and what inspired him I think this author does an amazing job.
The description of his childhood and the surroundings and events that led to his later work is extremely well.
Thoroughly recommended if you're interested in more than the usual page-turner with laughable quasi-historical dialogue.
March 3, 2018
I very much enjoyed this novel by Lucille Turner. It's a mixture of fact and fiction, and as no sources are given it's rather difficult to know which is which, unless you are very familiar with Renaissance history and the life of Leonardo da Vinci. A sense of calmness pervades the writing, despite the turbulent era of 15th century Italy, and the author creates a feeling of being at one with nature in her descriptions of the Tuscan countryside and Leonardo's discoveries. I'm glad I found this book and would recommend it to others interested in the artist and the period presented in the form of historical fiction.
June 7, 2018
Vale, se hace un poco largo de leer porque la trama avanza lentamente... pero que maravilla de libro. Me ha encantado conocer un poco más de la vida de Leonardo DaVinci! Y es que aunque sea ficción, muchos de los datos son reales y por tanto siento que conozco un poco más la vida de este artista que dedicó su vida a crear (sea en el ámbito que sea).
Un recorrido por varias ciudades Italianas en el siglo XV, un gran artista conocido mundialmente, una chica misteriosa, mucha ciencia... ¿Que más se puede pedir?
Un recorrido por varias ciudades Italianas en el siglo XV, un gran artista conocido mundialmente, una chica misteriosa, mucha ciencia... ¿Que más se puede pedir?
August 31, 2013
This is a beautifully written fictional account of Da Vinci's life. Lucille Turner brought the man to life with his skilful use of present tense narration and extraordinary historical details. I feel like I have got to know Da Vinci after reading Gioconda.
February 16, 2018
As a passionate reader of Historical Fiction I really wanted to like this book, but unfortunately it fell a little flat. A novel of one of the greatest figures of all time Leonardo Da Vinci, I was expecting it to be full of scandal, dishonor and dilemmas. I wanted to feel Leonardo's frustration trying to explain ‘modern day science’ to the old world. His humiliation of rejection at being a man ahead of his time and an outcast. I wished it to be more ‘meaty'. Regrettably, it didn't meet any of my expectations and was very boring in some parts. A list of the characters at the start of the book would have helped, as they seemed as undeveloped as the book itself. Be that as it may, I did take one quote to mull over ‘Superstition is weak wisdom' This is as relevant today as it was in Da Vinci's time.
August 6, 2020
3'5 en realidad.
No sabría decir muy bien qué sentimientos me ha dejado este libro. La escritura es elegante, se nota que la autora escribe poesía porque ha plasmado esa elegancia en esta historia.
Nos cuenta la vida de Leonardo desde su juventud hasta en el momento en el que pinta uno de sus cuadros más famosos: La mona Lisa. Si algo me ha gustado es que ha incidido mucho en uno de los aspectos que más me gusta de Leonardo y es su curiosidad y su constante necesidad de saber más. La ha plasmado a la perfección.
Sin embargo, los saltos en el tiempo pueden llegar a descuadrar. Para alguien que conozca la vida y fechas importantes del maestro, puede seguir la línea de tiempo sin problema, pero para alguien que lo desconozca puede resultar confuso.
No sabría decir muy bien qué sentimientos me ha dejado este libro. La escritura es elegante, se nota que la autora escribe poesía porque ha plasmado esa elegancia en esta historia.
Nos cuenta la vida de Leonardo desde su juventud hasta en el momento en el que pinta uno de sus cuadros más famosos: La mona Lisa. Si algo me ha gustado es que ha incidido mucho en uno de los aspectos que más me gusta de Leonardo y es su curiosidad y su constante necesidad de saber más. La ha plasmado a la perfección.
Sin embargo, los saltos en el tiempo pueden llegar a descuadrar. Para alguien que conozca la vida y fechas importantes del maestro, puede seguir la línea de tiempo sin problema, pero para alguien que lo desconozca puede resultar confuso.
August 6, 2025
I had this book in my to read pile for some time. Don’t know why it took me so long to get there. I was entranced and taken right back to Tuscany 🤩
Lucille turner’s imagining of The life of Leonardo felt so authentic. So descriptive of his love of nature and his obsession with science and so many beautiful poetic turns of phrase I had to read it in small chapters to digest the enormity of the man’s creative endeavours. Like wee vignettes and in the end I wanted more…
Lucille turner’s imagining of The life of Leonardo felt so authentic. So descriptive of his love of nature and his obsession with science and so many beautiful poetic turns of phrase I had to read it in small chapters to digest the enormity of the man’s creative endeavours. Like wee vignettes and in the end I wanted more…
March 31, 2024
Published in 2011, 'Gioconda' is a fictional depiction of the life of Leonardo da Vinci'. It sticks to the man facts, whilst trying to get inside his head at the time when he was coming up with these amazing idea. Howe successful it realises this is for the reader to decide. It is an interesting basis for a novel, but did not really stand out for me.
October 7, 2017
Gioconda is a beautiful novel about Leonardo Da Vinci, mixing between fact and fiction.
July 1, 2021
Lucille writes beautifully, sadly, this book was a chore for me to read. The pacing was all over the place and not very clear, the characters lacked complexity and the examination of Leonardo Da Vinci character was just barely seen. The history facts were well studied but not used.
July 17, 2019
Más de la inquietante historia de Da Vinci.
September 29, 2016
An interesting book. Very well written. We get into the mind of Leonardo da Vinci. I realize this is historical fiction, but it reads like a biography. A man full of ideas and ambitions. I expected a bit more from Leonardo's time in Milan.
The main story focuses on the relationship/friendship between Leonardo and Lisa (Mona Lisa), throughout his life and his quest for knowledge. I was intrigued with the explanations of his human dissections, particularly interesting was the dissection involving a young, pregnant woman. He treated the bodies he dissected with reverence and care, while learning all he could about human anatomy for the advancement of knowledge.
Leonardo's interest in medicine, weaponry and science are all explained in this book. The one thing left out, was the sodomy incident in Florence that clouded his early years. He wasn't convicted but it is still worth mentioning in any book featuring Leonardo.
I enjoyed reading this book and give it 4/5 stars,
The main story focuses on the relationship/friendship between Leonardo and Lisa (Mona Lisa), throughout his life and his quest for knowledge. I was intrigued with the explanations of his human dissections, particularly interesting was the dissection involving a young, pregnant woman. He treated the bodies he dissected with reverence and care, while learning all he could about human anatomy for the advancement of knowledge.
Leonardo's interest in medicine, weaponry and science are all explained in this book. The one thing left out, was the sodomy incident in Florence that clouded his early years. He wasn't convicted but it is still worth mentioning in any book featuring Leonardo.
I enjoyed reading this book and give it 4/5 stars,
July 9, 2014
The author's undertaking of wiring an 'autobiography' of Da Vinci, itself deserves the biggest credit.
Lucidly written and well researched. It sparkles in brilliance in many parts while other parts just guide you along like a stream does (an oft mentioned metaphor in the book) towards those parts.
Leonardo da Vinci is breathed into life once again with a personality and character that most likely was. Through his eyes we walk around his beautiful world, philosophize with him about life, laugh with him at his adversaries and scorn at the dim but arrogant nobility.
Most important of all we learn to rediscover the magic of our lives and nature once again. We learn to see with wondrous amazement again.
Lucidly written and well researched. It sparkles in brilliance in many parts while other parts just guide you along like a stream does (an oft mentioned metaphor in the book) towards those parts.
Leonardo da Vinci is breathed into life once again with a personality and character that most likely was. Through his eyes we walk around his beautiful world, philosophize with him about life, laugh with him at his adversaries and scorn at the dim but arrogant nobility.
Most important of all we learn to rediscover the magic of our lives and nature once again. We learn to see with wondrous amazement again.
July 19, 2015
I very much liked the way this book is written, the language is deceptively simple and keeps the reader captivated.
As an admirer of Leonardo Da Vinci, the subject is one of great interest. I loved the descriptions of childhood curiosity and logic, together with the freedom to explore, creating an image of a very independent thinker. Each era of Leonardos life rang true, however his childhood and later life left a greater impression..
As an admirer of Leonardo Da Vinci, the subject is one of great interest. I loved the descriptions of childhood curiosity and logic, together with the freedom to explore, creating an image of a very independent thinker. Each era of Leonardos life rang true, however his childhood and later life left a greater impression..
October 5, 2016
Wunderbar poetisches Buch über Leonardo da Vinci. Ich habe als Kind schon "Der Zauberer von Florenz" verschlungen, einen ebenfalls fiktiven Roman über seine Kindheit und Jugend, seine Anfänge als Künstler. In beiden Romanen wird entlang des spärlichen Faktengerüsts jeweils der Versuch unternommen, es mit "Fleisch" auszufüllen und damit das größte Universalgenie, das die Welt je hervorgebracht hat, zum Leben zu erwecken.
August 23, 2014
An historical-fiction of the original Renaissance man, Leonardo da Vinci. Enjoyable novel with lots of interesting facts about "the genius" and events occurring during his lifetime. Leo's imagined involvement with Lisa Gioconda and his painting of the Mona Lisa was thought provoking; sending me to Google what else I could find out about Gioconda.
March 23, 2016
This book is too short to properly address the subject. However, the many aspects of Leonardo's life, that are not directly covered, are tactfully hinted at. The descriptions of Leonardo's thought process and unique perception of the world are well done. If you liked this book check out "The Agony and Ecstasy".
February 1, 2017
This is a really well written book which creates a captures a picture of Leonardo da vinci from childhood to man. Turner invests him with a sense of fascination in the world and how it works particularly the human body and throws a light on how he was perceives as mad, bad and dangerous to know. His pursuit of La gioconda and what he does with the painting is so cleverly portrayed.
December 4, 2021
Enjoyed. "Read" this via audio book. Made me want to learn/see more of the doings of Leonardo De Vinci. Very fictional, loosely based, but possible, story line...gives a flavour of the background and the person.
January 1, 2013
An involving fictional account of Leonardo's life up to the painting of the Mona Lisa. It can be hard to remember that da Vinci was a human like the rest of us. This novel underlines that fact, but also highlights the unique world view of the artist. Recommended.
May 19, 2016
Although the subject is interesting - imagining how Leonardo da Vinci grew up and developed his curiosity in all things around him, the style of writing - short sentences - annoyed me in the end.... It felt as if you are constantly 'interrupted' and need to change and adjust your attention.
September 2, 2017
Kako izgleda biti u glavi Leonarda da Vincija,.tragati za znanjem i razumjevanjem kako funkcionise ljudsko tijelo, kako letjeti....knjiga na opusten nacin bez imalo napetosti opisuje njegov zivot,a zavrsava sa cinjenicama kako je on naslikao portret Mona Lize...
October 18, 2012
Engaging
February 14, 2013
I learned much from this book, I want to go back and underline some favourite bts, but it's a library book. Hmmm, this one mighty be overdue.
April 15, 2013
Lo único que me gustó fue que me dejó con ganas de leer más de Leonardo da Vinci..
Esta lento y medio aburrido, con algunas cosas interesantes de LDD, pero le faltó muchísimo..
Esta lento y medio aburrido, con algunas cosas interesantes de LDD, pero le faltó muchísimo..
March 10, 2014
Evocative landscape and context. For me, some characters were like Leonardo's inventions - incomplete.
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September 28, 2014An intriguing look into da Vinci's life. I struggled a bit with the rhythm or something of the narration. I wanted to love this book but only liked it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews