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A review by amyvl93
The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O'Farrell
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
My first experience with Maggie O'Farrell was a bit mixed, but I found Hamnet incredibly moving so I was intrigued to pick up The Marriage Portrait when it was shortlisted for the Women's Prize.
This novel tells the story of Lucrezia, a daughter of the house of de Medici in Florence, who is married off to the Duke of Ferrara at the age of fifteen - and becomes convinced that her husband is going to murder her. This is in part based on historical sources, whilst Lucrezia's death is thought to be caused by TB, there were many rumours that she was killed. Her story was also immortalised in Browning's poem 'My Last Duchess'.
Whilst there is certainly intrigue here, I think what fell down for this novel is that part of its tragedy - Lucrezia's very young age at her death - means that there isn't a great deal for the book to focus on. We get a very slow burn of her young years growing up with her wider family in Florence, where she is deemed the black sheep of the family. Like Hamnet, it is clear that O'Farrell really immersed herself in the historical context of this story, but it was a slow read for the first two thirds. Once Lucrezia enters her marriage to Alfonso there is definitely more to go at, and I found O'Farrell's writing of a claustrophobic, controlling relationship to be very effective, but it takes a long time to get there.
Overall, this novel made me feel like it would have been a great short story but the content felt overstretched.
This novel tells the story of Lucrezia, a daughter of the house of de Medici in Florence, who is married off to the Duke of Ferrara at the age of fifteen - and becomes convinced that her husband is going to murder her. This is in part based on historical sources, whilst Lucrezia's death is thought to be caused by TB, there were many rumours that she was killed. Her story was also immortalised in Browning's poem 'My Last Duchess'.
Whilst there is certainly intrigue here, I think what fell down for this novel is that part of its tragedy - Lucrezia's very young age at her death - means that there isn't a great deal for the book to focus on. We get a very slow burn of her young years growing up with her wider family in Florence, where she is deemed the black sheep of the family. Like Hamnet, it is clear that O'Farrell really immersed herself in the historical context of this story, but it was a slow read for the first two thirds. Once Lucrezia enters her marriage to Alfonso there is definitely more to go at, and I found O'Farrell's writing of a claustrophobic, controlling relationship to be very effective, but it takes a long time to get there.
Overall, this novel made me feel like it would have been a great short story but the content felt overstretched.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse
Moderate: Murder and Violence
Minor: Pregnancy