Unveiled

by Carolyn Morgan

The Louvre has the Mona Lisa.

Canada has the Veiled Virgin.

In the twenty-first century, Rebecca Howell is transfixed by the beauty of Giovanni Strazza’s masterpiece the Veiled Virgin. The sculpture was created in Italy in the mid-1800s but is housed at the Presentation Convent in St. John’s, Newfoundland. Its existence is one of the best-kept secrets in North America. Rebecca can’t help but wonder why in 1856 the Italian artist allowed such a brilliant example of his work to come to this remote island.

She discovers that although the work is signed by Strazza, it is not listed with his other sculptures, and there are no existing documents for the sale of the work. Rebecca travels to Italy to solve the mystery. Her research on Strazza and the Veiled Virgin will be the subject for her doctoral degree in art history.

Rebecca’s search is a labour of love as it takes her across the majestic cities and countrysides of Italy—from Milan to Rome, from Florence to Vinci, and finally to Piedmont, where her answers await. Her journey becomes one of self-discovery as the Newfoundland-Italy connection deepens and the mystery about the model who posed for Giovanni Strazza unfolds . . . along with the legacy she left.

Genres: Fiction

231 pages, Paperback

Published May 8, 2019

Reviews

[TomG · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the writing style and the story had promise but there was a whole other "filler" story that had no relevance to the novel's development and got tiresome. I became bored with the story and had a job to finish it.

[Tiffany Curl · Rating 2 out of 5]

The plot of the book was interesting but the delivery fell flat for me. I found the dialogue to be a bore and there was a lot of fluff in there that didn’t add anything to the book for me.

[Jim Fisher · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 rounded up to 3. An extremely cozy and fictional solution to the mystery of Newfoundland's "Veiled Virgin" marble bust. Great Italian locales. I liked her first book Art Love Forgery much better.

[Helen Escott]

I loved this book. I really got caught up in the story and could see her tour of Italy.

[Saltygalreads · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unveiled is a fictional imagining of the story behind the The Veiled Virgin, a sculpture by Italian artist Giovanni Strazza, and housed at the unlikely location of the Presentation Convent, St. John's, Newfoundland.

The story is told from the point of view of art history major Rebecca Howell, as she travels from Newfoundland to Italy to work on her PhD with the sculpture as her subject. I am not certain how I could classify the novel since it crosses over into various categories - drama/mystery/romance.

Although it is a short book, only 231 pages, I struggled through this and took more time to finish than I should have. I had expected a mystery, but encountered a novel that wasn't sure what it wanted to be; and much of the romantic and family story relating to Rebecca seemed unnecessary to the storyline. The conflicts and setbacks are all resolved so neatly and to everyone's satisfaction, and the romance is wrapped up in such a trite little happy ever after package at the end, that it almost seems like a Disney novel for adults. Perhaps if you enjoy Hallmark romances (sorry for the shade there), this is your cup of tea, however not one I can recommend.

[Lisa Heimbigner]

This book got bad reviews. The bad reviews mostly came from men. It is fiction, but based on this amazing sculpture. I was blessed to have seen it on two visits to St. John's Newfoundland, my mother-in-law's homeland. The book is a love story and also focuses on as strong friendship between two women. So, there is "fluff!" I think if you have not experienced this beautiful piece of art, one may not appreciate the book.

Every block of stone has a statue inside it, and it is the task of the sculptor to discover it. --Michhelangelo Di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni

[Hal · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book, I really did. But there were just so many unnecessary parts. Many of the romance scenes were not needed, same with the drama that just seemed to be shoved in. Many (if not all) of Rebecca’s interactions with Ariana are useless as well. Without the unnecessary drabble, this book could have been bumped down from 200+ pages to less than 100. Safe to say I was disappointed and found this book a bit of a chore to read.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve admired the Veiled Virgin since I was young in the same way the main character, Rebecca, does. Unfortunately, my life, while charmed in other ways, didn’t take me on an overseas academic treasure hunt or into the arms of a handsome Italian artist and professor. The pretext of the book (how the heck did the Veiled Virgin end up in NL?!!) is fascinating, although most of the book is fiction. I could have done with more historical detail and less romantic fluff, but it was an enjoyable read.

[Renee Mulrooney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finished a while back and totally forgot to review!

A great novel by a local author. Love how it connected parts of the world, bringing history to the present and highlighting a piece of art held right here in NL. The story tied together nicely at the end. Not typically my style of novel, but pleasantly surprised how much i enjoyed the book!

[Harold Walters · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read complete column at the following link:
https://www.thepacket.ca/opinion/colu...

[Wanda Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book was not as I expected. I didn’t think all the extras added anything to the narrative, in fact they took away from the book unfortunately.

[R.A. Dunne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A terrific story that enlightens the reader on the back story of the most amazing sculpture in the world found in St. John's, Newfoundland - the Veiled Virgin.