Birth of Venus by Sarah Dunant

This book will appeal to readers of historical fiction, art lovers, romance readers, feminists, and those intrigued by the Italian Renaissance.  It tells the story of Alessandra, daughter of a Florence cloth merchant and aspiring artist, as she encounters her first love and the constraints of growing up in 15th century Florence.  The story is set at the end of the reign of the Medici family, who loved art, luxury, and learning. They are replaced by a fundamentalist preaching monk Savonarola who begins a purge of what he views as the sinful excesses of Florence.  This puts Alessandra and her family at risk, as they have supported the Medicis and their luxuries. Alessandra's love story and its related plot twists are a bit over the top, but she is eventually able to express her artistic side.  A wonderful picture of life in Florence, Italy.  301 pages.