Perspective(s)
A Novel
by Laurent Binet
This title was previously available on NetGalley and is now archived.
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Pub Date Apr 08 2025 | Archive Date May 06 2025
Description
“As full of epic characters as the Sistine Chapel ceiling . . . Sinfully fun to read.” —Jennifer Wilson, The New Yorker
“[A] thorough success . . . A dazzling romp.” —Steven Poole, The Guardian
“Historical fiction doesn’t get much better than this.” —George Cochrane, The Telegraph (5/5 stars)
A pulse-quickening murder mystery set in Renaissance Florence by the renowned author of HHhH.
As dawn breaks over the city of Florence on New Year’s Day 1557, Jacopo da Pontormo is discovered lying on the floor of a church, stabbed through the heart. Above him are the frescoes he labored over for more than a decade—masterpieces all, rivaling the works of Michelangelo in the Sistine Chapel. When guards search his quarters, they find an obscene painting of Venus and Cupid—with the face of Venus replaced by that of Maria de’ Medici, the Duke of Florence’s oldest daughter. The city erupts in chaos.
Who could have committed these crimes: murder and lèse-majesté? Giorgio Vasari, the great art historian, is picked to lead the investigation. Letters start to fly back and forth—between Maria and her aunt Catherine de’ Medici, the queen of France; between Catherine and the scheming Piero Strozzi; and between Vasari and Michelangelo—carrying news of political plots and speculations about the identity of Pontormo’s killer. The truth, when it comes to light, is as shocking as the bold new artworks that have made Florence the red-hot center of European art and intrigue.
Bursting with characters and historical color, Laurent Binet’s Perspective(s) is a whodunit like no other—a labyrinthine murder mystery that shows us Renaissance Florence as we’ve never seen it before. This is a dark, dazzling, unforgettable read.
A Note From the Publisher
Advance Praise
"A tight, fast-paced, well-managed whodunnit . . . Postmodern playfulness with an underlying message is what we have come to expect from Binet . . . Entertaining . . . Lyrical." —Russell Williams, The Times Literary Supplement
"A crackerjack depiction of [Renaissance] political intrigue . . . Binet masterfully weaves together the story’s multiple threads. Readers will be captivated." —Publishers Weekly
Available Editions
| EDITION | Other Format |
| ISBN | 9780374614607 |
| PRICE | $28.00 (USD) |
| PAGES | 272 |
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews
Reviewer 1262865
Loved this story - mysterious, decadent, dark, and intricate. A beautiful way to revisit historic Italy during the Renaissance.
Reviewer 1072847
I loved this! I read the Marriage Portrait recently and this was such a neat way to dive deeper into the intrigue and politics of the Medici family. Impeccably researched history. Total page turner, honestly couldn’t put it down. Highly recommended for all lovers of art history, Italian history, mysteries, political intrigue, and good writing.
Catherine B, Reviewer
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC!
An Interesting premise is followed through by equally intriguing writing and formatting. Through a bunch of letters that frame each of the chapters is the mystery of who killed Jacopo da Pontormo and why? I loved this format and will have to find other books like it.
I was glad for the character key in the beginning of the book as the story progressed to recall who was who. The author starts out with an interesting prologue and explanation of how and why the story came to fruition, which I always appreciate! Might check out the authors' other books.
Bookseller 868610
Thanks for this ARC!
My first read of the year and what a way to start off. I loved the format, super interesting. The prologue even makes me wonder if he really found these letters? It's more likely that that prologue is part of the fiction, but let a reader dream ;)
Now I'm off to google all the characters.
I saw that another reviewer wrote that this book reminded them of the Marriage Portrait, so I'm bumping that up my TBR as well :)
Kip K, Reviewer
Binet has yet again written an unforgettable novel that plays with history in an unexpected way. This time, he takes us to 16th century Florence, and gives us a delightful murder-mystery in the manner of an epistolary novel. Utilizing the voice of famous painters, prominent politicians, and other notables; we unravel the mystery of Pontormo's murder and accompanying political intrigue. Funny, erudite, and compelling.
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