"A fantastic read."
Lauren Patterson, an American PhD student, makes a remarkable discovery and accidently finds the diaries of Leonardo da Vinci's assistant. Paulo del Rossi's diaries then lead us through love stories, drama, blackmail, murder and the aftermath of monumental deception. The modern day quest to uncover the historical truths are fantastically interesting. Immersive and intriguing, Paulo del Rossi and Lauren guide us through the Renaissance in Florence to Nazi Germany and into the local Costa coffee shop with ease. We even discover the secret of Mona Lisa's smile and follow a tender love story that spans across the years. A fantastic read.
Nikki Telling, A LoveReading Ambassador
| Primary Genre | Historical Fiction |
| Recommendations: |
'All Visible Things' by Brian McPhee is one of the best works of historical fiction I have ever read.
'All Visible Things' by Brian McPhee is one of the best works of historical fiction I have ever read. It is extensively researched, well-written and the illustrations are superb. It tells the story of Lauren Patterson, an American student, who is researching her PhD about the wool trade between England and Florence in the 16th century at the family home of William Chance, the 18th Earl of Blythswood in Oxfordshire. Amongst the family papers she discovers pages of a diary in Italian, which, because of her own Italian heritage, she is able to read. They are penned by the fictional character, Paolo del Rosso, who, at the age of 14, becomes assistant and housekeeper to Leonardo da Vinci. Through his eyes, we gain a fascinating insight into the life and times of the great man and many of his contemporaries, such as Raphael and Michaelangelo.... Read Full Review
An incredibly good read.
I just loved this book from start to finish, it has a Dan Brown feel to it. Through diaries written by Leonardo Da Vinci's assistant - we learn about the assistant Paolo and about the man himself Leonardo. I have always been fascinated by him since I visited the Louvre in the 70s when it was much easier to view the Mona Lisa than it is today. In All Visible Things, we discover how she was painted. The story introduces the reader to Lauren Patterson, an American PhD student who comes across the diaries, thus beginning a quest to find a drawing lost in the past. With the help of an English art dealer, the quest begins, taking them through Florence and back to the atrocities of World War 2.... Read Full Review
When Lauren Patterson, a young American PhD student, discovers the diary of an assistant to Leonardo da Vinci, we are immediately immersed in the personalities and intrigues surrounding the greatest genius in history. Dramas in the forms of blackmail, murder, defamation, betrayal and bitter artistic rivalries play out against prosaic everyday struggles to extract money from clients, find lost pattern books, deliver on rash boasts fuelled by too much wine and, amidst all of this, create masterpieces. We meet the inspiration behind Leonardo’s greatest paintings, discover the secret of Mona Lisa’s smile and bear witness as a tender love story unfolds over the years. The diaries also reveal the existence of a charming drawing, inspired by love and created with Leonardo’s assistance, a drawing with hidden depths. Meanwhile, the discovery of the diaries is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Lauren, an opportunity threatened by academic jealousies, unwanted media attention and personal insecurities. However, a partnership develops between the young academic and an English art dealer as they work to complete the diary and track down the drawing–a task that will take them from Renaissance Florence to Nazi Germany and the Holocaust to a thrilling dénouement when the portrait gives up its remarkable secret and our protagonists embrace their future.
All Visible Things features in the following genres: Historical Fiction, Indie Books We Love, Fiction, Recommendations
All Visible Things is available in Paperback
All Visible Things was written by Brian McPhee and published by CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
