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karen7's review against another edition
4.0
This book is extensively researched, with 100 pages of notes plus a bibliography. However, this is not a biography but more of an analysis of Franco's work and times. I wished it had talked more about her life and those of the people around her, though I realize her biography is scant. It is a bit confusing if her main volume of poetry is autobiographical or not. In addition, the appendices included are in Italian only. I would recommend this for scholars or those already familiar with her work. I feel like I should have read her works first, then this book.
hermance's review against another edition
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
5.0
This Academic work reflects on Veronica Franco not only as a Venetian courtesan but also as a poet and writer having to face the prejudices made against her by much more powerful men. This publication also discusses the role and place of Venetian women in the 16th century and how exhorbitant dowries impacted Venetian families and their daughters (even women from Patrician families) resulting in parents pushing daughters to become courtesans to financially help their family. Veronica Franco was aware of the such issues and dedicated her life to help young women as she knew the difficult and precarious position of being a courtesan.
kosgrove's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
lighthearted
reflective
sad
slow-paced
4.5
veronica my beloved
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Sexual violence
ladimcbeth's review against another edition
4.0
While I found Franco's life and poetry fascinating, Rosenthal tends to wander a bit in the discussion of external subject matter. A half dozen pages on the evolution of Venetian poetry to explain why she wrote a particular poem the way she did seems like overkill. I'm exaggerating a bit, but you get my point. Overall, this is a really interesting read about an equally interesting woman.