THE BOOK FAIR

Review:

Christi Phillips based her historical novel, “The Rossetti Letter”, on the Spanish Conspiracy against Venice, in 1617 and 1618.  Although the novel is fiction, the conspiracy was real; the author draws both real and fictitious characters.  The story encompasses two different plots and moves back and forth in time.

 

In 1618, Alessandra Rossetti, a young Venetian woman, composes the Rossetti Letter, in hopes to save Venice from the conspiracy.

 

Claire Donovan, a student in present day Massachusetts, works on her doctoral thesis, the Spanish Conspiracy against Venice in 1618.  By chance, Claire is offered an unexpected trip to Venice as the chaperone of a wealthy teenager.

 

Alessandra Rossetti, a young woman orphaned of her family, finds she has few choices in life to maintain her independence.  La Celestial, a courtesan, notices Alessandra.  Not long after, Alessandra, in the employee of La Celestial, becomes La Sirena.  The position affords Alessandra the access to wealth and influence.

 

In Venice, Claire attends the lecture presented by Andrew Kent, a renowned author and historian who is writing a book on the very subject of her thesis.  She also learns he does not agree with her own analysis of Alessandra as a heroine, but rather, Kent proposes that as a woman, Alessandra would have little part in any conspiracy.

 

Claire spends her time at the library, poring over historical works, determined to find a connection in Alessandra’s role in the conspiracy.  As Andrew prepares for his own lecture, he and Claire compete for the same material.

 

Alessandra, determined to save Venice, delivers the letter naming the conspirators, all except one.

 

Descriptive and colorful, the plot flows swiftly with a pleasant, charming and witty banter between Claire and Andrew.  Simultaneously, a simmering romantic relationship grows between Alessandra and Antonio.  Although Ossuna and Bedmar are historical figures, Antonio and Alessandra are fictitious characters.  Recommended.