What do you think when someone says "historical fiction"?

Boring facts about the past?  Perhaps something dry that your grandpa reads about WWII? Well, historical fiction is alive and kicking these days, as evidenced in the spirited new novel from Sarah Dunant, In the Company of the Courtesan. 

Set in the early 1500’s in Renaissance Italy, the main character Fiammetta is a well-respected professional mistress who has entertained merchants and cardinals. When the city of Rome is invaded, she and her trusty dwarf sidekick, Bucino have to escape to Venice to reinvent themselves and start up their trade.

Don’t let all the Italian history scare you off.  This story is a wonderful tale of love and adventure. And as she did in her previous novel The Birth of Venus, Sarah Dunant seamlessly blends literary poetic descriptions of a period with frank dialogue in a very quick and enjoyable read.