Will I love Costanza?

I knew little about Bernini and certainly nothing about Costanza. I like the twist that let's her discover the reason for her being barren; I like her lust for life and it's shockingly instructive how the male world begrudges her that quest for that little bit of life. The ending is uplifting - sisterhood is her ultimate saving grace. The author evokes Baroque Rome beautifully!

At first glance, this may seem like a strange choice for this list of books featuring fierce female lead characters, given the storyline of a woman having an affair with a sculptor who makes her his muse. However, I fell in love with the writing, which is so evocative that I could almost smell the baked air of 17th-century Rome and feel the uneven cobbles beneath my feet.

But as the story developed, I loved the character of Costanza more…and as the plot played out, I almost howled in anger at what she endured. This is another story based on… show more.