La venus del cuadro

by Frank G. Slaughter

Padua, 1562. El joven maestro de anatomía Antonio Servet, cuyo hermano Miguel ha sido quemado en la hoguera por sus ideas heréticas, consagra sus solitarios días a la enseñanza, y sus pensamientos se dirigen hacia la posibilidad de recibir las órdenes sagradas. Pero dos acontecimientos cambiarán su destino irrevocablemente: el hallazgo del desaparecido cuadro El nacimiento de Venus de Botticelli y su amistad con Lucía Bellarmi, joven de belleza perturbadora y extrañamente familiar. Desde ese momento, perseguido por el Santo Oficio, su vida se convertirá en un devenir de dramáticas aventuras por las principales capitales del continente europeo desde Padua a Florencia, de Venecia a la corte de Felipe II en Madrid, de Paris a Cambridge.

Genres: Historical

414 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1949

About the author

Frank Gill Slaughter , pen-name Frank G. Slaughter, pseudonym C.V. Terry, was an American novelist and physician whose books sold more than 60 million copies. His novels drew on his own experience as a doctor and his interest in history and the Bible. Through his novels, he often introduced readers to new findings in medical research and new medical technologies.

Slaughter was born in Washington, D.C., the son of Stephen Lucious Slaughter and Sarah "Sallie" Nicholson Gill. When he was about five years old, his family moved to a farm near Berea, North Carolina, which is west of Oxford, North Carolina. He earned a bachelor's degree from Trinity College (now Duke University) at 17 and went to medical school at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland. He began writing fiction in 1935 while a physician at Riverside Hospital in Jacksonville, Florida.

Books by Slaughter include The Purple Quest, Surgeon, U.S.A., Epidemic! , Tomorrow's Miracle and The Scarlet Cord. Slaughter died May 17, 2001 in Jacksonville, Florida.

Reviews

[Christopher Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a first-rate adventure novel, recommended by Goodreads because I enjoyed Frank Yerby's work. I must say, those algoritms work. I could not have enjoyed this book any more.
The author himself was a physician, and it shows. The technical details intertwine so well with the plot and intrigue! The best example might be right at the beginning, when the protagonist Dr. Antonio Servetus theorizes that blood must circulate through the lungs to become oxygenated before it returns to the heart. The demonstration on the corpse of a pig is described in such a way as to make it irrefutable, but not so much that it becomes tedious. The scene alone was riveting, I shared his excitement as the dye made its course. But then, this finding contradicts the teachings of Galen, which puts Antonio on the wrong side of the inquisition.
The character of Lucia Bellarmi is damn impressive considering when this was written. A strong and intelligent woman with a fully faceted personality in a book from the 40s? I don't want to say any more, even with spoilers. Up until the last chapter I was glued to this one, needing to know what would happen next. I couldn't think of ruining it for someone.
There were so many different settings, characters, motives... I will only say that none of them were expedient. Taken as an adventure novel, this one is perfect.

[مريم · Rating 5 out of 5]

honestly going into this book i had very low hopes of it being good. i had found it for a dollar at an old bookstore and decided to get it for fun. once i started the book i felt myself slowly becoming more hooked with each chapter. i was never into books set in older time periods but for some reason this one was amazing. especially the woman in the book. they were smart, independent, and actually had personalities. besides that the plot was sooo much fun to read. i personally want to go into the medical field so to see a book set in a period which was very driven by the church and the challenges of science and medicine during this time was exciting you know? when you put yourself into the book it’s such a fun read and i truly recommend it to everyone. although i must admit sometimes i felt myself a little bored with certain scenes but i feel all books have these parts. this was my first 5 star rating and i believe it deserves every star. it had romance as well but i wouldn’t consider it the main plot. more so a side story.

also this is the first time i’ve ever reviewed anything so i apologize if it’s not the best but i really do love this book and wanted to share my experience with it. if you do choose to read this book i hope you love it as much as i do because it was very well written. <33

[Sergio · Rating 3 out of 5]

Un romanzo storico ambientato ai tempi dell'Inquisizione, ben congegnato e di piacevole lettura.

[MariaGrazia Bacilieri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Splendido.
Il periodo storico crudele, affascinante e di rinascita esce dalle pagine con semplicità e precisione, la trama del romanzo si inserisce in modo mirabile nella storia e nelle prime scoperte mediche tanto che leggendo mi sono immedesimata nell'ingenuo e solido medico protagonista.
Mi è parso di "vedere" la Venere del Botticelli e la sua modella, ho guardato nei perversi occhi l'Inquisitore, ho subito il fascino esoterico della sfera di cristallo.
Non conoscevo questo Autore che è stato per me una vera scoperta.

[Angely A · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5 stjärnor. Den var bra men ibland kändes det som om handlingen ville två saker. Slutet var hastigt och gjorde inte att man blev belåten. Spännande bok som ändå är värd att läsa om man orkar ta sig igenom den långtråkiga början.

[Susan]

1563-1565 Italy and Spain about the Inquisition versus an anatomist

[Elena Traduzioni Oceano Mare · Rating 3 out of 5]

A parte la storia d'amore un po' melensa, che comunque e' abbastanza marginale, il libro, tra l'altro scritto nei primi anni '50, e' ancora una volta una triste cronaca dei crimini perpetrati dall'Inquisizione, nello specifico sulla categoria dei medici che, con le proprie scoperte scientifiche, osa opporsi alle credenze irremovibili della chiesa cattolica.

[Sherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

read this as a teen, captivating story of struggles during the days of the inquisition, and rennaisance.

[Hilary Marson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant - unputdownable!

[Clément Paquette · Rating 5 out of 5]

excellent, love slaughter and his work. this book is action filled and gives insight to evolutive theories and the rise to protestanism