The Scribe of Siena
A Novel
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4.1 • 81 Ratings
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- $14.99
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- $14.99
Publisher Description
“Like Outlander with an Italian accent.” —Real Simple
“A detailed historical novel, a multifaceted mystery, and a moving tale of improbable love.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review
A NEW YORK POST MUST-READ BOOK
Readers of Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander and Tracy Chevalier’s Girl with a Pearl Earring…will be swept away by the spell of medieval Siena” (Library Journal, starred review) in this transporting love story and gripping historical mystery.
Accomplished neurosurgeon Beatrice Trovato knows that her deep empathy for her patients is starting to impede her work. So when her beloved brother passes away, she welcomes the unexpected trip to the Tuscan city of Siena to resolve his estate, even as she wrestles with grief. But as she delves deeper into her brother’s affairs, she discovers intrigue she never imagined—a 700-year-old conspiracy to decimate the city.
As Beatrice explores the evidence further, she uncovers the journal and paintings of the fourteenth-century artist Gabriele Accorsi. But when she finds a startling image of her own face, she is suddenly transported to the year 1347. She awakens in a Siena unfamiliar to her, one that will soon be hit by the Plague.
Yet when Beatrice meets Accorsi, something unexpected happens: she falls in love—not only with Gabriele, but also with the beauty and cadence of medieval life. As the Plague and the ruthless hands behind its trajectory threaten not only her survival but also Siena’s very existence, Beatrice must decide in which century she belongs.
The Scribe of Siena is the captivating story of a brilliant woman’s passionate affair with a time and a place that captures her in an impossibly romantic and dangerous trap—testing the strength of fate and the bonds of love.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Winawer's debut is a detailed historical novel, a multifaceted mystery, and a moving tale of improbable love. When Beatrice Trovato's brother suddenly passes away in Italy, she leaves her New York home and demanding work as a neurosurgeon to sort out his affairs and retrieve his research on the Black Death in Siena. What she doesn't expect is to be pulled into his studies, as she compulsively attempts to complete what he started. Stumbling across fresco painter Gabriele Accorsi, who mysteriously seems to have painted her into his work, she finds herself physically transported across time into the 14th century, just before the plague strike. The vivid descriptions of the people, way of life, food, and other details of medieval Italy deepen the plot, making the book a truly immersive experience. The novel dramatically brings to life a period in Siena's history that is still overwhelmingly neglected by historians it is still unclear why Siena was ravaged by the plague in ways unseen in other Italian cities. Winawer has created a prodigious, vibrant tale of past and present that transports readers and fills in the historical gaps. This is a marvelous work of research and invention.
Customer Reviews
Fantastic Historical Fiction novel with a strong female lead!
“Bravery must be fueled by a bit of madness, else we should all stay huddled in our beds rather than face adversity.” - Gabriele in The Scribe of Siena by Melodie Winawer
4.5 stars! “The Scribe of Siena” takes places during two different timelines - centuries apart! The book starts in New York and then quickly moves to Siena, both of which take place in Present day. The second timeline takes place in Siena & surrounding Italian cities from 1347-1349. Essentially the plot is as follows: A successful neurosurgeon based in New York named Beatrice Trovato learns of her brother (who relocated to Siena at some point in the last however many years) had passed away suddenly and unexpectedly, and he left his house, and the research he was currently working on, to her. The lawyer also explained that other researchers would be willing to take his work off of her hands and compare notes.
She decided to go to Siena to get things taken care of, but ultimately she was drawn into the mystery of wondering what her brother could have possibly been working on for so many years, and why other researchers wanted it so badly. While she begins to make friends and fall in love with present day Siena, she also manages to do some independent research. In the middle of reading a diary of a painter from the year 1347, to her bewilderment (and fear - after all - the plague is set to break out eight months later) she’s suddenly transported into that very same year. By happenstance, she ends up meeting that exact painter whose diary she read. The story tells the tale of her adventure as she tries to unravel the mystery of her brothers research and her adjustment to living in medieval times.
Ultimately, I enjoyed this book a lot! (But duh - I love me some historical fiction books that have a strong female lead who faces adversity and has only a portion of the story focused on the romance which is built up slowly.) a slow buildup of romance.)
I was pretty much drawn into the story right away. There were a few characters that I absolutely despised, but that made the book more realistic because that’s how the real world happens to be. For every mean/nasty character, there was a character that I absolutely adored.
While I honestly think that much more fear would be going on if a neurosurgeon was transmitted back to those times, just because of how there would be all sorts of viruses and bugs she wouldn’t be used to and:…. Can you tell I’m a germaphobe? Haha 😂
Minus having some confusion surrounding the actual transportation, I felt that everything else was packaged nicely by the end. For a break out novel, Melodie Winawer, blew me away, and I can’t wait to read more books that she’s written. I truly had NO hunches or ideas what the mystery could be or how the book would unravel - and for that, I’m appreciative because it felt like a fresh take for sure! Thank you for that, Melodie!
Dare I even dream that there may be a sequel to this one day? I felt that the epilogue definitely set it up as a possibility to flash forward to six years later!
Scribe of Siena
I absolutely love and highly recommend this book for anyone interested in historical fiction
This novel will attract specifically anyone who is curious about medieval history involving Siena.
Characters are very well drawn and I felt like I knew them as I read about their trials and tribulations.
Fascinating story line and so thoroughly well researched.
Can't wait for the authors next work. This debut novel is excellent and one of the most captivating reads I have come across.
A wonderful, must-read novel.
I loved this time-travel, medieval Italian tale with its trifecta of love, science and art, combining together for some fantastic historical fiction. Winawer has done her homework and she brings the time of 1347 to the reader in fascinating and accessible way. I loved the mystery that brought present and past together in the centuries old rivalry between Siena and Florence. There is a little magic, and a lot of intrigue, danger and passion, and I found myself loathe to put this book down as the hours dwindled late into the night. I've seen other descriptions of the novel in how it will "sweep you away" and it is true.