Spring Break
Hope and tragedy in Florentine
Timothy Baghurst
Issue date: 2/22/08 Section: Life & Style
The name Luca Bastardo might conjure certain adjectives at first. Immortality is not likely to be a suitable word for the name. For Luca, however, ?immortality, as the book is aptly titled, is potentially one of them. ?First time author Traci Slatton takes readers on a historical ride through two centuries of Renaissance Florence.
Luca begins life in the slums of Florence, scrapping and thieving for food. But when his beautiful appearance attracts the wrong interests, he soon finds himself in a much more horrifying situation. ?
When his seemingly flawless appearance does not alter by age, his owner threatens to have him killed for sorcery. Luca manages to ?escape and begins a new life, discovering medicine and alchemy, but is always under the threat of the Inquisition.
?Over the course of decades, Luca sees many generations come and go. He meets and befriends painter Giotto di Bondone and later helps educate ?Leonardo Da Vinci. However, Luca remains haunted by his own unknown past and the mysterious promise of painful love. With the arrival of ?true love come secrets of his dark past. His choices not only affect the outcome of his own life, but might also change the course of history.
"Renaissance Immortal" is a unique tale about one man's life spanning over the course of centuries. Although at times the plot appeared to be tedious and have messy philosophical dialogue, this was an enjoyable read that provides an interesting account of the Renaissance period. Readers should be warned of some disturbing early accounts of Luca's infancy as a child prostitute.
Luca begins life in the slums of Florence, scrapping and thieving for food. But when his beautiful appearance attracts the wrong interests, he soon finds himself in a much more horrifying situation. ?
When his seemingly flawless appearance does not alter by age, his owner threatens to have him killed for sorcery. Luca manages to ?escape and begins a new life, discovering medicine and alchemy, but is always under the threat of the Inquisition.
?Over the course of decades, Luca sees many generations come and go. He meets and befriends painter Giotto di Bondone and later helps educate ?Leonardo Da Vinci. However, Luca remains haunted by his own unknown past and the mysterious promise of painful love. With the arrival of ?true love come secrets of his dark past. His choices not only affect the outcome of his own life, but might also change the course of history.
"Renaissance Immortal" is a unique tale about one man's life spanning over the course of centuries. Although at times the plot appeared to be tedious and have messy philosophical dialogue, this was an enjoyable read that provides an interesting account of the Renaissance period. Readers should be warned of some disturbing early accounts of Luca's infancy as a child prostitute.
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