Search - The Lady and the Unicorn

I too thought this was a fast historical fiction read, but I also found it to be a bit sneaky. I did not guess at the surprise that awaits, but did guess at another part of the ending. It's also interesting to read about the life of a family of weavers... you just see these tapestries in museums now, but to read a possible way that they lived and the daily struggles they endured to complete these works... it gives a whole new layer to the works of art to me.

Chevalier has a lovely way of using a work of art as a jumping-off point for her fiction. This time it's the Medieval Tapestry of "The Lady and the Unicorn". Although this book is in no way comparable to "The Girl with the Pearl Earring", Chevalier has done a wonderful job of imagining the world of the Tapestry guild and the noble family that might have commissioned this work of art. A very nicely realized time-piece with interesting, believable characters.

This is the fictional story of the commission and completion of a 15th century tapestry. The tapestry is real, the author has written a fictional account of the creation of the tapestry and the lives of the people involved in it's making. The tapestry is commissioned in Paris but woven in Belgium with a great deal of historical detail regarding the two areas and the time.

Enjoyed the time period of the book. I found it's presentation of each characters part of the story very interesting.

Really liked the history and the pace of the story. You got a wonderful picture of the making of these hangings and the work that goes into them. Very interesting characters. A great read.

This book,like,"Girl With a Pearl Earring" has a similar fairy-tale quality. If the story says it is so, you must believe it is.The difference between this and a real fairy tale is that a real fairy tale is not rife with bawdy sex while Ms Chevalier's books are.
The book traces the production of a well known art piece and inserts characters and events of the true era, putting it all together as it may have happened.
If the review were condensed to a one word synopsis, it would be "Charming." I would recommend it to anyone mature enough not to be swayed by the sexual bawdiness so as to be confused about the role sex plays in history. It is written for females, but the sexual references make it sound as though it were written and thought out by a male...either that or I should go back and research the role of sexuality in past historical events.