The Stolen Lady - Large Print by Laura Morelli (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

From the acclaimed author of The Night Portrait
comes a stunning historical novel about two women, separated by five hundred
years, who each hide Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa--with unintended
consequences.

France, 1939

At the dawn of World War II, Anne Guichard, a young
archivist employed at the Louvre, arrives home to find her brother missing.
While she works to discover his whereabouts, refugees begin flooding into Paris
and German artillery fire rattles the city. Once they reach the city, the Nazis
will stop at nothing to get their hands on the Louvre's art collection. Anne is
quickly sent to the Castle of Chambord, where the Louvre's most precious
artworks--including the Mona Lisa--are being transferred to ensure their
safety. With the Germans hard on their heels, Anne frantically moves the Mona
Lisa and other treasures again and again in an elaborate game of hide and
seek. As the threat to the masterpieces and her life grows closer, Anne also
begins to learn the truth about her brother and the role he plays in this
dangerous game.

Florence, 1479

House servant Bellina Sardi's future seems fixed when she accompanies
her newly married mistress, Lisa Gherardini, to her home across the Arno.
Lisa's husband, a prosperous silk merchant, is aligned with the powerful
Medici, his home filled with luxuries and treasures. But soon, Bellina finds
herself bewitched by a charismatic monk who has urged Florentines to rise up
against the Medici and to empty their homes of the riches and jewels her new
employer prizes. When Master Leonardo da Vinci is commissioned to paint a
portrait of Lisa, Bellina finds herself tasked with hiding an impossible
secret.

When art and war collide, Leonardo da Vinci, his beautiful
subject Lisa, and the portrait find themselves in the crosshairs of history.

Review Quotes

"Laura Morelli's The Night Portrait is simply a masterpiece. Morelli imagines a sophisticated plot, fleshes it out with historically significant characters, and spins it into a truly spectacular read. Rarely have I been so caught up in a book as I was with this unforgettable tale of bravery and love, hope and redemption. Fans of Kristin Hannah's The Nightingale and Anthony Doerr's All the Light We Cannot See will delight in this epic novel." - Lori Nelson Spielman, international bestselling author
"In a brilliantly written narrative that deftly cuts back and forth between the 15th and the 20th centuries, Morelli brings to vivid life the attempts by a German art restorer and an American soldier to rescue works of art from the destruction of war. This is a compelling story of two heroic people, of the young Cecelia who posed for Da Vinci, the artist, and the times they lived in. I am left with an affirmation of the crucial importance of art to a culture and the power of individual action."
- Frances Mayes, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Under the Tuscan Sun and Women in Sunlight, on The Night Portrait
Praise for The Night Portrait: "The Night Portrait by Laura Morelli, which links Renaissance Italy and the crucible of World War Two in the most absorbing and innovative fashion, is also a novel of profound emotional resonance. A respected art historian, Morelli brings an exceptional depth of research and understanding to a story already made memorable by her beautiful prose. This is a truly original novel that has earned its place among my favorite works of historical fiction." - Jennifer Robson, bestselling author of Our Darkest Night
"Laura Morelli's The Night Portrait is a gorgeous and propulsive novel that brings to dramatic life the stories of Leonardo da Vinci, the subject of one of his most famous paintings, and the Monuments Men's quest to rescue that masterpiece from the Nazis during World War II. This stunning novel is a great masterpiece on its own, making you see old stories--and old art--in fresh, new ways. Perfect for any art lover or anyone who wants to understand why we all must care about the history of art." - Stephanie Storey, author of Oil and Marble and Raphael, Painter in Rome
"The Night Portrait is an astonishing, epic tale that seamlessly spans centuries of history and art, encompassing the beauty of the Renaissance and the horrible truths of Nazi Germany. Masterfully imagined and unforgettable, this riveting novel shows us the power of art to bring hope in a world of despair." - Crystal King, author of The Chef's Secret
"The Night Portrait is a compelling page turner at the same time as it is a mesmerizing meditation on legacy, guilt and complicity, the horrors of war, and most of all, the singular power of art. This well-researched and vivid novel is sure to thrill history buffs and art lovers alike." - Alyssa Palombo, author of The Borgia Confessions
"The Stolen Lady is a compelling novel about not only what it takes to create art, but also what it takes to preserve it for future generations in the face of war, violence, and strife. Laura Morelli is second to none in her attention to detail in the realm of art history. I promise you that you'll never look at the Mona Lisa the same way again after reading this novel!" - Alyssa Palombo, author of The Most Beautiful Woman in Florence