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The Stolen Lady: A Novel of World War II and the Mona Lisa
From the acclaimed author of The Night Portrait comes a stunning historical novel about two women, separated by five hundred years, who each hide Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa —with unintended consequences.
France, 1939 At the dawn of World War II, Anne Guichard, a young archivist employed at the Louvre, arrives home to find her brother missing. While she works to discover his whereabouts, refugees begin flooding into Paris and German artillery fire rattles the city. Once they reach the city, the Nazis will stop at nothing to get their hands on the Louvre’s art collection. Anne is quickly sent to the Castle of Chambord, where the Louvre’s most precious artworks—including the Mona Lisa —are being transferred to ensure their safety. With the Germans hard on their heels, Anne frantically moves the Mona Lisa and other treasures again and again in an elaborate game of hide and seek. As the threat to the masterpieces and her life grows closer, Anne also begins to learn the truth about her brother and the role he plays in this dangerous game. Florence, 1479 House servant Bellina Sardi’s future seems fixed when she accompanies her newly married mistress, Lisa Gherardini, to her home across the Arno. Lisa’s husband, a prosperous silk merchant, is aligned with the powerful Medici, his home filled with luxuries and treasures. But soon, Bellina finds herself bewitched by a charismatic monk who has urged Florentines to rise up against the Medici and to empty their homes of the riches and jewels her new employer prizes. When Master Leonardo da Vinci is commissioned to paint a portrait of Lisa, Bellina finds herself tasked with hiding an impossible secret. When art and war collide, Leonardo da Vinci, his beautiful subject Lisa, and the portrait find themselves in the crosshairs of history.
France, 1939 At the dawn of World War II, Anne Guichard, a young archivist employed at the Louvre, arrives home to find her brother missing. While she works to discover his whereabouts, refugees begin flooding into Paris and German artillery fire rattles the city. Once they reach the city, the Nazis will stop at nothing to get their hands on the Louvre’s art collection. Anne is quickly sent to the Castle of Chambord, where the Louvre’s most precious artworks—including the Mona Lisa —are being transferred to ensure their safety. With the Germans hard on their heels, Anne frantically moves the Mona Lisa and other treasures again and again in an elaborate game of hide and seek. As the threat to the masterpieces and her life grows closer, Anne also begins to learn the truth about her brother and the role he plays in this dangerous game. Florence, 1479 House servant Bellina Sardi’s future seems fixed when she accompanies her newly married mistress, Lisa Gherardini, to her home across the Arno. Lisa’s husband, a prosperous silk merchant, is aligned with the powerful Medici, his home filled with luxuries and treasures. But soon, Bellina finds herself bewitched by a charismatic monk who has urged Florentines to rise up against the Medici and to empty their homes of the riches and jewels her new employer prizes. When Master Leonardo da Vinci is commissioned to paint a portrait of Lisa, Bellina finds herself tasked with hiding an impossible secret. When art and war collide, Leonardo da Vinci, his beautiful subject Lisa, and the portrait find themselves in the crosshairs of history.
624 pages, Paperback
First published September 21, 2021
644 people are currently reading
17980 people want to read
About the author
Laura Morelli
29 books939 followersThe first time I visited Venice as a wide-eyed teenager, I knew I was supposed to buy Murano glass, but I had no idea why.
All I knew was that I was whisked to the famous “glass island” on an overcrowded, stinky boat. I waited behind two dozen American and Japanese tourists to pay an exorbitant price for a little glass fish—what a bewildering experience!
Still, it was the artistic traditions of the world that inspired me to study the past. Living in Europe and Latin America, I realized that in many places, centuries-old craft traditions are still living traditions.
So began my quest to discover craftspeople passing on a special kind of knowledge to the next generation.
__________________________________________________
Laura Morelli holds a a Ph.D. in art history from Yale University. Her books include Made in Italy, Made in France, and Made in the Southwest, which lead travelers to some of the world’s most authentic experiences. She has written for many national publications including USA Today and the New York Daily News, and has authored a column for National Geographic Traveler online called “The Genuine Article.” She has taught at Trinity College in Rome, Tufts University, Northeastern University, and the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, and has spoken to public audiences across the U.S. and Europe.
All I knew was that I was whisked to the famous “glass island” on an overcrowded, stinky boat. I waited behind two dozen American and Japanese tourists to pay an exorbitant price for a little glass fish—what a bewildering experience!
Still, it was the artistic traditions of the world that inspired me to study the past. Living in Europe and Latin America, I realized that in many places, centuries-old craft traditions are still living traditions.
So began my quest to discover craftspeople passing on a special kind of knowledge to the next generation.
__________________________________________________
Laura Morelli holds a a Ph.D. in art history from Yale University. Her books include Made in Italy, Made in France, and Made in the Southwest, which lead travelers to some of the world’s most authentic experiences. She has written for many national publications including USA Today and the New York Daily News, and has authored a column for National Geographic Traveler online called “The Genuine Article.” She has taught at Trinity College in Rome, Tufts University, Northeastern University, and the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, and has spoken to public audiences across the U.S. and Europe.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 700 reviews
August 4, 2023
One woman is the person in the painting while the other woman is trying to save it.
We meet Lisa Gherardini in 1497 whose wealthy husband wanted a portrait of her, and we meet Anne Guichard in 1939 who is employed at the Louvre and trying to keep this famous painting, The Mona Lisa, out of the hands of the Nazis.
Leonardo Da Vinci is the artist who painted Lisa's portrait.
Many interesting facts about this painting that traveled far and wide to keep it safe.
All three people are tied together by this one painting even though the connection is hundreds of years apart.
Lisa's maid, Bellina Sardi, is a side part of this trio, but she has an important role of keeping her mistress safe, but is also asked to spy on and steal from the wealthy family she works for by the Medici.
Marvelous research as always and an educational trip through history as we learn about the woman behind that Mona Lisa smile, Leonardo Da Vinci, how the Mona Lisa took many trips and was hidden many times, and life during this time in history. 5/5
This book was given to me by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
We meet Lisa Gherardini in 1497 whose wealthy husband wanted a portrait of her, and we meet Anne Guichard in 1939 who is employed at the Louvre and trying to keep this famous painting, The Mona Lisa, out of the hands of the Nazis.
Leonardo Da Vinci is the artist who painted Lisa's portrait.
Many interesting facts about this painting that traveled far and wide to keep it safe.
All three people are tied together by this one painting even though the connection is hundreds of years apart.
Lisa's maid, Bellina Sardi, is a side part of this trio, but she has an important role of keeping her mistress safe, but is also asked to spy on and steal from the wealthy family she works for by the Medici.
Marvelous research as always and an educational trip through history as we learn about the woman behind that Mona Lisa smile, Leonardo Da Vinci, how the Mona Lisa took many trips and was hidden many times, and life during this time in history. 5/5
This book was given to me by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 5, 2021
Like the masterpiece she writes about, Laura Morelli has created a work of art that is impossible to forget. With beautifully rendered settings, expertly drawn characters and a storyline that immersed me from the very first page, THE STOLEN LADY is a wonderful homage to both art and the women in history who made art possible, but whose stories have been forgotten. A truly sublime novel.
Read
November 12, 2022The Stolen Lady by Laura Morelli is a book I couldn’t get into. Not vibe at all. I wanted to DNF it but it is too good of a book to disrespect like that. Maybe I will read again one day.
September 1, 2023
Wonderful blend of historical fiction plus art history, as Laura Morelli treats us to her interpretation of how two ladies "saved" the Mona Lisa and does this by dual timelines. We follow Bellina, who is a servant whose job it is to look after Lisa Giacondo who is the lady of the painting. In addition we follow Anne who is a typist in the Louvre and who is enlisted to help transport the painting around France (with a convoy of other workers, paintings and sculptures from the Louvre) during WW2.
Bellina's timeline is from 1471 until 1519 when Leonardo died. Anne's timeline is from 1939-1945. Much of Bellina's story is conjecture, but it is oh, so good, as Art Historian Morelli tries to fill in the blanks about the painting, how it was made, how long it took to paint, etc. As a treat we also get chapters with Leonardo as narrator. It is very well done, finely researched and you can easily put yourself into the scenes of the action. I began enjoying the WW2 segments the most, however by about 2/3 of the way in the book I felt the Bellina/Lisa/ Leonardo story gained steam and easily became may favorite chapters.
So happy that I read this and cannot wait to read more of this authors works!!
Bellina's timeline is from 1471 until 1519 when Leonardo died. Anne's timeline is from 1939-1945. Much of Bellina's story is conjecture, but it is oh, so good, as Art Historian Morelli tries to fill in the blanks about the painting, how it was made, how long it took to paint, etc. As a treat we also get chapters with Leonardo as narrator. It is very well done, finely researched and you can easily put yourself into the scenes of the action. I began enjoying the WW2 segments the most, however by about 2/3 of the way in the book I felt the Bellina/Lisa/ Leonardo story gained steam and easily became may favorite chapters.
So happy that I read this and cannot wait to read more of this authors works!!
August 23, 2021
The Stolen Lady is told from three perspectives: Anne in France during WWII, and Leonardo and Bellina in Italy in the late 1400s and early 1500s. It is the story of the creation of the Mona Lisa and the painting's journey while hiding from the Nazis.
What I liked:
-I love historical fiction, especially during WWII. This was a perspective I hadn't followed before and it was interesting to see how the Louvre staff took care of priceless artwork.
-I like how the author ended one POV with an idea and began the next POV with the same idea. It was a great way to link these three experiences together and I wish it had been consistent throughout the book.
- It was intriguing to learn about the subject of the Mona Lisa, Lisa Gherardini del Giocondo.
What I didn't like:
-This book started out great but really lagged in the middle. I understand it was setting the scene and the history in Italy, but it didn't add to the story.
-I feel like the POVs of Leonardo and Bellina could have been combined. Only one perspective from that time frame was needed, and Bellina's didn't bring much new information. Her details could have been added to Leonardo's story.
-I was underwhelmed with the ending. Everything just suddenly went back to normal but was very lackluster. I feel there were missed opportunities.
3.5 Stars
What I liked:
-I love historical fiction, especially during WWII. This was a perspective I hadn't followed before and it was interesting to see how the Louvre staff took care of priceless artwork.
-I like how the author ended one POV with an idea and began the next POV with the same idea. It was a great way to link these three experiences together and I wish it had been consistent throughout the book.
- It was intriguing to learn about the subject of the Mona Lisa, Lisa Gherardini del Giocondo.
What I didn't like:
-This book started out great but really lagged in the middle. I understand it was setting the scene and the history in Italy, but it didn't add to the story.
-I feel like the POVs of Leonardo and Bellina could have been combined. Only one perspective from that time frame was needed, and Bellina's didn't bring much new information. Her details could have been added to Leonardo's story.
-I was underwhelmed with the ending. Everything just suddenly went back to normal but was very lackluster. I feel there were missed opportunities.
3.5 Stars
March 29, 2023
Here we have historical fiction with two alternating historical settings:
1) World War II France, where the Louvre employees are trying to keep priceless works of art out of the hands of Nazis, with particular care for the Mona Lisa
2) 1600s Italy, featuring the life of the lady Lisa in the famous portrait, interspersed with Leonardo da Vinci’s journal entries
The first half of the book was SO SLOW.
Honestly, NOTHING happens. We are literally watching paint dry at times! I was so close to DNF’ing. It finally picked up in the second half. The World War II storyline was more interesting because at least there were some explosions. Just skip the first half of the book; you won’t be lost. The journal entries were just useless rambling that added nothing to the story other than to make Da Vinci look like a prick.
The writing is decent, though the author loves the word “suddenly.” I recommend it for hard-core historical fiction fans and art fans.
*Reader’s Choice Nominee Spring 2023*
Language: Clean
Sexual Content: None
Violence/Gore: Some war violence; not graphic
Harm to Animals:
Harm to Children:
Other (Triggers):
1) World War II France, where the Louvre employees are trying to keep priceless works of art out of the hands of Nazis, with particular care for the Mona Lisa
2) 1600s Italy, featuring the life of the lady Lisa in the famous portrait, interspersed with Leonardo da Vinci’s journal entries
The first half of the book was SO SLOW.
Honestly, NOTHING happens. We are literally watching paint dry at times! I was so close to DNF’ing. It finally picked up in the second half. The World War II storyline was more interesting because at least there were some explosions. Just skip the first half of the book; you won’t be lost. The journal entries were just useless rambling that added nothing to the story other than to make Da Vinci look like a prick.
The writing is decent, though the author loves the word “suddenly.” I recommend it for hard-core historical fiction fans and art fans.
*Reader’s Choice Nominee Spring 2023*
Language: Clean
Sexual Content: None
Violence/Gore: Some war violence; not graphic
Harm to Animals:
Harm to Children:
Other (Triggers):
June 1, 2021
The Stolen Lady is a beautifully written, must-read story of the incredible journey of the Mona Lisa set amid two turbulent times in history. Laura Morelli offers a well-researched and richly told tale that captivated my attention from the first page.
September 22, 2021
I received an ARC of this novel for an honest review:
I wanted to love this, but after the first 200 pages it took effort to continue. The pacing slows way down - the reader is almost literally watching paint dry as Leonardo begins working on the Mona Lisa. Too many details, not enough action, and the characters for 2 of the 3 storylines were not developed enough for me to be invested. The novel, sadly, felt like more of a history dissertation than a cohesive, interesting historical fiction narrative.
I wanted to love this, but after the first 200 pages it took effort to continue. The pacing slows way down - the reader is almost literally watching paint dry as Leonardo begins working on the Mona Lisa. Too many details, not enough action, and the characters for 2 of the 3 storylines were not developed enough for me to be invested. The novel, sadly, felt like more of a history dissertation than a cohesive, interesting historical fiction narrative.
November 23, 2021
This is a well-written, entertaining historical fiction novel, which describes the journey of the Mona Lisa at two different times in history, at its origin, and while it was being protected by the Louvre staff during WWII. The facts researched by Ms. Morelli, combined with her imagination, truly brought the stories of this incredible portrait to life.
August 2, 2023
Book on CD read by Lisa Flanagan, Caroline Hewitt, and Paul Woodson.
3.5****
A work of historical fiction with a dual timeline – 1939 in France as the Germans are invading; and 1479 in Florence, when Leonardo da Vinci is commissioned to paint a portrait of Lisa Gherandini. In both cases one woman takes it upon herself to ensure that the portrait remains hidden away in order to protect it.
In 1479 the loyal servant Bellina, illiterate and not always fully understanding the intricacies of Medici politics, takes it upon herself to secure an unfinished portrait of her mistress. In 1939, Anne works to help obfuscate and hide the inventories that point to the location of the precious artwork. Having learned to drive a truck she is sometimes pressed into service joining the convoys that move the Louvre’s treasures about the countryside, trying to keep one step ahead of the Nazis. Both storylines have moments of intense activity and suspense, along with romance thwarted (or delayed, or interrupted) by events occurring outside their control.
Between the two storylines, I clearly preferred the World War II one. I wasn’t sure that this novel needed the 15th century story line. For me, it distracted from the danger and adventure of the situation faced by the curators and workers of the Louvre who worked tirelessly to secure the museum’s collections – including, or especially, the Mona Lisa – from invading Nazis. However, I did find the story of the creation of the painting, including the “rivalry” between Da Vinci and “that upstart” Michelangelo, interesting. I had no idea that the artist had presented the painting to the French. I also appreciated the look at how politics and religious fervor affected the residents of Florence during this time frame. I think I would have enjoyed it more had the two time frames been treated in separate novels.
The audiobook is very well done by a trio of talented voice artists. This does help when switching time frames and/or narrators.
I also had the print version readily available and I’m glad I did for it included extensive author notes / interviews and historic photos of the Louvre staff moving these treasures.
3.5****
A work of historical fiction with a dual timeline – 1939 in France as the Germans are invading; and 1479 in Florence, when Leonardo da Vinci is commissioned to paint a portrait of Lisa Gherandini. In both cases one woman takes it upon herself to ensure that the portrait remains hidden away in order to protect it.
In 1479 the loyal servant Bellina, illiterate and not always fully understanding the intricacies of Medici politics, takes it upon herself to secure an unfinished portrait of her mistress. In 1939, Anne works to help obfuscate and hide the inventories that point to the location of the precious artwork. Having learned to drive a truck she is sometimes pressed into service joining the convoys that move the Louvre’s treasures about the countryside, trying to keep one step ahead of the Nazis. Both storylines have moments of intense activity and suspense, along with romance thwarted (or delayed, or interrupted) by events occurring outside their control.
Between the two storylines, I clearly preferred the World War II one. I wasn’t sure that this novel needed the 15th century story line. For me, it distracted from the danger and adventure of the situation faced by the curators and workers of the Louvre who worked tirelessly to secure the museum’s collections – including, or especially, the Mona Lisa – from invading Nazis. However, I did find the story of the creation of the painting, including the “rivalry” between Da Vinci and “that upstart” Michelangelo, interesting. I had no idea that the artist had presented the painting to the French. I also appreciated the look at how politics and religious fervor affected the residents of Florence during this time frame. I think I would have enjoyed it more had the two time frames been treated in separate novels.
The audiobook is very well done by a trio of talented voice artists. This does help when switching time frames and/or narrators.
I also had the print version readily available and I’m glad I did for it included extensive author notes / interviews and historic photos of the Louvre staff moving these treasures.
October 31, 2021
It was very similar in many ways to The Night Portrait, so if one loved that book, this will be extremely familiar. I really liked learning about the Louve and what they went through to protect the museum art during WW II, however, the main character, Anne, seems to be too large a conglomeration of characters. SPOILER ALERT: She not only works for the Louve, but joins the reistance, learns to fight, engages in warfare, falls in love, loses family members during the war, and so much more. It is just too many roles for the one woman to play and her personality doesn't fit several of the roles. I was disappointed in the plot line for this novel.
October 14, 2021
This was sooooo slow and I had to force myself to skim the last 100 pages. I hate not finishing a book, but I really should have put this one down.
Read
October 12, 2021Written in three voices: Leonardo (Italy 1400’s), Bellina (Italy 1400’s) and Anne (Paris 1939+)
I love books about art and I love books about WWII.
This one said nothing to hold my interest.
After 100 pages I gave it up.
Bellina is fictional as is Anne and both were insipid. Leonardo was uninspired.
The story of art treasures being removed from the Louvre for safe-keeping as war is looming over Europe is already well known and written about.
I love books about art and I love books about WWII.
This one said nothing to hold my interest.
After 100 pages I gave it up.
Bellina is fictional as is Anne and both were insipid. Leonardo was uninspired.
The story of art treasures being removed from the Louvre for safe-keeping as war is looming over Europe is already well known and written about.
September 19, 2021
I just can't help but give this a 5star rating! Extraordinary story of the life and times of Mona Lisa....how she was created by the great Leonardo and how she was saved!
The research was definitely up to point! As I have studied, researched some in dealing with the Holocaust, the underbelly of the Nazi regime....Ms.Morelli has given us a glimpse of what Anne and her colleagues, and the "rebel-gorilla" civilian "corps" endured to keep, save precious art and artifacts!
Am so glad I received this as a "gift" from the author /Netgalley for a honest review.
I could go into deep, detailed words about what I've read here. But if I were to do this, I would be telling you the entire book! Just know that Lisa (the actual woman behind that beautiful smile we all love, and wonder just what she really thought, felt as she posed for the great DaVinci) and about Anne, the young lady that truly loved this work of art-precious, and irreplaceable -- and the perils all three survived! 500+years apart!!
So, on that note, just know you won't be sorry if you decide to pick this one up. And you can bet, you'll just might find yourself looking things up in the encyclopedia of your choice,(I use the Americana Encyclopedias that my folks bought while my dad was active duty -these were only sold on military posts/bases with updated annuals yearly-rec'd our last one 1971 when dad retired after 30yrs!) And the Brittanica -- yeah,yeah I know that's so "old school" but let me tell ya my granddaughter thought it was "a hoot gramma" and she learned a lot more about DaVinci (As I did) and the Louvre and the precious/priceless art that was saved from destruction...so yes, grab a cuppa something, a snAck and settle in and enjoy a good read (no pun intended😁) as you can see, I did!--P/
The research was definitely up to point! As I have studied, researched some in dealing with the Holocaust, the underbelly of the Nazi regime....Ms.Morelli has given us a glimpse of what Anne and her colleagues, and the "rebel-gorilla" civilian "corps" endured to keep, save precious art and artifacts!
Am so glad I received this as a "gift" from the author /Netgalley for a honest review.
I could go into deep, detailed words about what I've read here. But if I were to do this, I would be telling you the entire book! Just know that Lisa (the actual woman behind that beautiful smile we all love, and wonder just what she really thought, felt as she posed for the great DaVinci) and about Anne, the young lady that truly loved this work of art-precious, and irreplaceable -- and the perils all three survived! 500+years apart!!
So, on that note, just know you won't be sorry if you decide to pick this one up. And you can bet, you'll just might find yourself looking things up in the encyclopedia of your choice,(I use the Americana Encyclopedias that my folks bought while my dad was active duty -these were only sold on military posts/bases with updated annuals yearly-rec'd our last one 1971 when dad retired after 30yrs!) And the Brittanica -- yeah,yeah I know that's so "old school" but let me tell ya my granddaughter thought it was "a hoot gramma" and she learned a lot more about DaVinci (As I did) and the Louvre and the precious/priceless art that was saved from destruction...so yes, grab a cuppa something, a snAck and settle in and enjoy a good read (no pun intended😁) as you can see, I did!--P/
November 5, 2021
Interesting but drawn WAY out. Very hard to read and stay awake.
October 25, 2021
This is a fascinating dual timeline story set around what must be the world’s most famous painting, The Mona Lisa. The author draws a beautifully authentic tale of the creation of this work in the early 1500’s, it’s subject, Lisa, and creator, Leonardo da Vinci, and some intriguing detail about the politics of the time in Florence. The other timeline is based around the saving of the works of art in the Louvre, including the beloved Mona Lisa by brave individuals who had to move them around the country during the Nazi occupation. Not only is Morelli an expert in art history but she is also an accomplished storyteller, weaving a page turning novel which is both compelling and riveting. I absolutely loved it!
June 4, 2021
A fascinating glimpse into the history and mystery behind the woman painted in the most iconic portrait to date—Mona Lisa—and the harrowing lengths of which the staff of the Louvre went to keep it out of Nazi hands during WWII. This was a powerful and poignant ode to a classic work that might have disappeared from the world altogether, and the life of a woman who had no idea today we’d still be admiring her face.
September 1, 2021
Usually I love these dual timeline historical novels but this one was hard to get into. I think it was because both main characters were just so whiny. They were unhappy with the responsibilities in their lives and complained about it through the entire book and finally at the end decided that what they did do had value. I think the only character that I actually had any connection with was DaVinci. The plots were interesting if not riveting but I just didn't care about everyone getting their happily ever after conclusion.
I won this book through Goodreads Giveaway. All opinions are my own.
I won this book through Goodreads Giveaway. All opinions are my own.
January 7, 2022
Badly researched and badly written I should have DNFed this book 25% through but fought through against my better judgement. Both protagonists are humorless with massive savior complexes, neither is likable or endearing. The author has a tendency to repeat bad sentences and phrases to the point that I was rolling my eyes and audibly sighing. Not to mention the fact that in the entire French storyline she doesn’t mention any of the suffering of the French people, no hunger or rationing, lack of new/warm clothing, etc, really the only inconvenience for the characters seems to be moving and living with these “precious/priceless pieces of art” or whatever terrible phrasing was used. Do yourself a favor and skip.
October 7, 2021
The Stolen Lady
By: Laura Morelli
4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
1939-France
Anne Guichard, is an employee at the Louvre. She comes home and discovers her brother is missing. As WWII is approaching refugees are seeking solace in Paris, while German artillery is a constant. As the Nazis are invading Paris it is clear the art in the Louvre is in danger. Anne is embarking on an adventure to help save some of the priceless artwork including the Mona Lisa. In the midst of this she discovers more about her brother.
🇫🇷
1479-France
Bellina Sardi is a house servant and travels with her mistress Lisa Gherardini to her new home across Arno. The home is filled with treasures as her new husband is a silk merchant. A monk is trying to charm Bellina into stealing some of the treasures of her mistress to help rise up against Medici, whom is friends with the mistresses husband.
🇫🇷
Leonardo da Vinci is commissioned to paint a portrait of Lisa, and Bellina struggles with hiding a secret. Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa and his passion for his subject are evident.
🇫🇷
I recommend this to anyone who loves art history. novel is emerged in history and what it took to hide such precious works of art. #thestolenlady, #lauramorelli, #harpercollins, #bookstagram, #historicalfiction, #booksconnectus, #stamperlady50
By: Laura Morelli
4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
1939-France
Anne Guichard, is an employee at the Louvre. She comes home and discovers her brother is missing. As WWII is approaching refugees are seeking solace in Paris, while German artillery is a constant. As the Nazis are invading Paris it is clear the art in the Louvre is in danger. Anne is embarking on an adventure to help save some of the priceless artwork including the Mona Lisa. In the midst of this she discovers more about her brother.
🇫🇷
1479-France
Bellina Sardi is a house servant and travels with her mistress Lisa Gherardini to her new home across Arno. The home is filled with treasures as her new husband is a silk merchant. A monk is trying to charm Bellina into stealing some of the treasures of her mistress to help rise up against Medici, whom is friends with the mistresses husband.
🇫🇷
Leonardo da Vinci is commissioned to paint a portrait of Lisa, and Bellina struggles with hiding a secret. Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa and his passion for his subject are evident.
🇫🇷
I recommend this to anyone who loves art history. novel is emerged in history and what it took to hide such precious works of art. #thestolenlady, #lauramorelli, #harpercollins, #bookstagram, #historicalfiction, #booksconnectus, #stamperlady50
September 5, 2021
I enjoy historical fiction so I was excited to read this book about the Mona Lisa which follows a split time line between the the Renaissance and WW2. The writing is decent and these fascinating historical events appear well-researched, but this book never really grabbed me. The story is told from multiple viewpoints with frequent jumps in time that interrupted the flow of my reading. I didn’t feel a strong connection to any of the characters and this lack of empathy made the overall story drag.
October 2, 2021
DNF for me. It was a slow, kind of young adult read.
January 26, 2022
I struggled with this one...I almost DNF but I'm terrible at that. Instead, I got to about 30% through the ebook and started skimming. So I mostly only read dialogue from then on it and it got a lot better. Would still like to suggest the title be changed to "The Stolen Time" because I'm not getting that time back.
We have three POVs, Anne, Leonardo, and Bellina, and they were all pretty boring. The chapters weren't terribly long, and nothing would happen in any of them. In some of Leonardo's chapters, he's literally watching paint dry. And then I couldn't figure out why we had Bellina's POV (I think I would've preferred getting Lisa's herself); things just happen to her and she rarely actually does anything. Anne's POV should have been the most interesting (to me) because of the WWII timeline, but nope. She worries about her brother, she moves artwork around, she worries more about her brother, she drives a truck, she worries about the artwork, she moves the artwork again, she kisses a boy who disappears for the rest of the story, she worries more about the artwork and her brother, she moves the artwork again, she rides a bicycle, she worries about her brother and the artwork...you get the picture. There are no stakes or tension.
I thought by the end there would be an "aha" moment connected all the POVs together, but no, the story just ends abruptly and I still didn't care about any of these characters.
This book is not plot-driven or character-driven, because nothing happens in the plot and the characters get zero development. So I'm going to call it history-driven. You can tell the author did a lot of research and I can appreciate that. That's the only reason it gets the half star instead of just one star from me. I originally gave it two stars but writing this review made me not like this book more so it lost a half star lol.
I read this for my work book club (which was another reason why I forced myself to finish it) so it'll be interesting to see what others thought of it...
My rating: 1.5 stars, rounded up to 2 stars here.
CW: war, violence, child death, death, gun violence.
We have three POVs, Anne, Leonardo, and Bellina, and they were all pretty boring. The chapters weren't terribly long, and nothing would happen in any of them. In some of Leonardo's chapters, he's literally watching paint dry. And then I couldn't figure out why we had Bellina's POV (I think I would've preferred getting Lisa's herself); things just happen to her and she rarely actually does anything. Anne's POV should have been the most interesting (to me) because of the WWII timeline, but nope. She worries about her brother, she moves artwork around, she worries more about her brother, she drives a truck, she worries about the artwork, she moves the artwork again, she kisses a boy who disappears for the rest of the story, she worries more about the artwork and her brother, she moves the artwork again, she rides a bicycle, she worries about her brother and the artwork...you get the picture. There are no stakes or tension.
I thought by the end there would be an "aha" moment connected all the POVs together, but no, the story just ends abruptly and I still didn't care about any of these characters.
This book is not plot-driven or character-driven, because nothing happens in the plot and the characters get zero development. So I'm going to call it history-driven. You can tell the author did a lot of research and I can appreciate that. That's the only reason it gets the half star instead of just one star from me. I originally gave it two stars but writing this review made me not like this book more so it lost a half star lol.
I read this for my work book club (which was another reason why I forced myself to finish it) so it'll be interesting to see what others thought of it...
My rating: 1.5 stars, rounded up to 2 stars here.
CW: war, violence, child death, death, gun violence.
September 26, 2021
This was my first book from Laura Morelli. With that said, I must say I loved her writing style. While I have never been abroad, Ms. Morelli made me feel as if I was in each and every place with her illustrative words. The smells, the textures, the weather, all made this for an immersive experience for the reader.
In addition, creating a story line across multiple timelines can, at times, present a challenge to some writers. Ms. Morelli made each transition seamless and I was not left wondering where I was or which character I was associating with. Her characters are completely relatable and the reader understands the social statuses and corresponding duties and obligations even if you have never read any other material for the era.
I recently began reading historical genres and The Stolen Lady was just what I needed to add to my collection. It encompasses so many aspects of a great read...I don't want to give anything away!
If you love WWII era fiction and appreciate art, you will absolutely love The Stolen Lady by Laura Morelli.
I would also like to Thank Goodreads and William Morrow Publishing Company for an advance print copy of The Stolen Lady by Laura Morelli. All comments and opinion are my own.
In addition, creating a story line across multiple timelines can, at times, present a challenge to some writers. Ms. Morelli made each transition seamless and I was not left wondering where I was or which character I was associating with. Her characters are completely relatable and the reader understands the social statuses and corresponding duties and obligations even if you have never read any other material for the era.
I recently began reading historical genres and The Stolen Lady was just what I needed to add to my collection. It encompasses so many aspects of a great read...I don't want to give anything away!
If you love WWII era fiction and appreciate art, you will absolutely love The Stolen Lady by Laura Morelli.
I would also like to Thank Goodreads and William Morrow Publishing Company for an advance print copy of The Stolen Lady by Laura Morelli. All comments and opinion are my own.
June 23, 2022
This is the story of The Mona Lisa - or 1 interpretation anyway... We get 3 storylines: Leonardo da Vinci himself as he is working on it, the woman working for Lisa (the woman sitting for the portrait) and a Louvre employee tasked with saving it from the Nazis. The storyline was interesting but it was really long and too much detail at points that I just got bored. I have seen the Mona Lisa at the Louvre and just wasn't that impressed.
October 2, 2021
I’m loving these dual timeline books set during both WWII and the Renaissance. This one is a page turning story about the Mona Lisa, both in creation and during Da Vinci’s life, and also the lengths the French went to in order to safeguard her during WWII. It’s also a story of people, the creator, the woman and her servant, and a museum assistant. Very enjoyable.
October 30, 2021
This was majestic and I can’t believe this author is back at it again. I loved every part of this historical fiction story and I couldn’t stop reading. What a powerful story with a phenomenal cast of characters.
August 17, 2021
Leonardo da Vinci is one of my personal heroes, and I was thrilled to receive an advance copy of the book to read. I enjoyed the alternating storylines. The author did a great job of putting me in the story of hiding the Louvre art when the Germans were on the way to occupy France. As an American, I'm familiar with the WWII history from that point of view. Six of my uncles served in WWII. One didn't come back, and 2 were POW's in Europe. I enjoyed the opportunity to learn more about WWII history from a European point of view. It was a good read, and I recommend it. I also liked the storytelling about Leonardo's scientific achievements as well as the artistic ones we are all familiar with. He was such an impressive man.
August 22, 2021
I received this as an advanced reader's edition from the publisher. This was such a masterpiece of a book. Dual timelines, from multiple point of views.
I just finished writing a long & detailed review and than it "had trouble saving my draft." So now it will be brief:
This was such a joy to read. It was clearly well researched, I was constantly googling names, dates & places. As with all good books I am inspired to read & learn more on the subjects. I in general was inspired by the book. The message that we all can do something bigger than ourselves is especially important in these times.
I just finished writing a long & detailed review and than it "had trouble saving my draft." So now it will be brief:
This was such a joy to read. It was clearly well researched, I was constantly googling names, dates & places. As with all good books I am inspired to read & learn more on the subjects. I in general was inspired by the book. The message that we all can do something bigger than ourselves is especially important in these times.
December 15, 2021
This was my first book by this author and I enjoyed the story very much. I like to read books about art and art history and I learned a lot from the story about the factual events surrounding the Mona Lisa. The dual time line worked well for me and showed similarities between the two stories, which I found to be cleverly done. I chose the audio version and though it was good, I didn’t love it. That said, it didn’t change my feelings about the story. I will definitely read more from Laura Marelli but I will more than likely choose the print version instead of the audio the next time.
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