Četiri Godišnja Doba: Roman O Vivaldijevoj Veneciji (2013) - Plot & Excerpts
Browsing through the reviews right after I devoured this book, I was shocked to find how lukewarm they were."The Four Seasons" is one of my favorite books this year, and I savored every eloquent sentence of it.It is the story of two sisters in 1700's Venice, Italy, who are taken in by a convent of nuns. One sister with a gift for music ends up being trained by Vivaldi, while the other is married to a wealthy aristocrat.By the end of the story, I loved both sisters dearly. The characters here are strong and grounded, and we see them grow up, go through both hardships and triumphs, and grow old.And finally - a book that truly captures historical Venice! Corona truly transports us back in time to my favorite city on earth.This book really is just gorgeous. Every chapter is seeped in sweeping, elegant, beautiful wording that I would probably read just for how beautiful it was - regardless of the quality of other elements like plot and characters.Laurel Corona, who even has a pretty name to match her style, is also the very first author who has captured music in words.With her descriptions, I felt that I could close my eyes and feel, rather than hear, the music. It was a feeling that I have never before come across, but it added a lot to the story. I was surprised to read, in the back, that the author knew little musically.The relationships in this book are well woven as well. The sisterly loyalty and fierce devotion between Chiaretta and Maddalena, the drawn out and reluctant love story between Maddalena and Vivaldi, and the sacrificial and confused love story between Chiaretta and her husband.The other main characters of this book are not people, however. They are music and Venice. They go beyond the story and become the soul and basis of the entire book.A gorgeous, well written story, and a favorite. Highly recommended. Loving both Venice & Vivaldi, I couldn't resist this book! It brings to life Vivaldi's fascinating career as a priest who found his true vocation as the music teacher to a girls' orphanage. Laurel Corona did great research to create characters who are believable & interesting, including her take on Vivaldi. A very enjoyable visit to a long-vanished time in a still-beautiful place, full of insight into this crucial phase in classical music.
What do You think about Četiri Godišnja Doba: Roman O Vivaldijevoj Veneciji (2013)?
I enjoyed this, gave an insight into Vivaldi and The Four Seasons music, which is timeless.
—mamawsarah
Wonderful peek and Vivaldi'd Venice. Historical fiction at it's best.
—allen
Good stuff. Embellished history with a swirl on top.
—Rocket
![Die Geigenspielerin[Ein Vivaldi Roman] (2009) by Laurel Corona](/i/cover.jpg)