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Da Vinci’s Tiger Audiobook Summary

For fans of rich and vivid historical novels like Girl with a Pearl Earring and Code Name Verity, Laura Malone Elliott delivers the stunning tale of real-life Renaissance woman Ginevra de’ Benci, the inspiration for one of Leonardo da Vinci’s earliest masterpieces.

The young and beautiful daughter of a wealthy family, Ginevra longs to share her poetry and participate in the artistic ferment of Renaissance Florence but is trapped in an arranged marriage in a society dictated by men.

The arrival of the charismatic Venetian ambassador, Bernardo Bembo, introduces Ginevra to a dazzling circle of patrons, artists, and philosophers. Bembo chooses Ginevra as his Platonic muse and commissions a portrait of her by a young Leonardo da Vinci.

Posing for the brilliant painter inspires an intimate connection between them, one Ginevra only begins to understand.

In a rich and vivid world of exquisite art with a dangerous underbelly of deadly political feuds, Ginevra faces many challenges to discover her voice and artistic companionship–and to find love.

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Da Vinci’s Tiger Audiobook Narrator

Elizabeth Wiley is the narrator of Da Vinci’s Tiger audiobook that was written by L. M. Elliott

L. M. Elliott is the New York Times bestselling author of Da Vinci’s Tiger; Under a War-Torn Sky; A Troubled Peace; Across a War-Tossed Sea; Annie, Between the States; Give Me Liberty; Flying South; and Hamilton and Peggy! She lives in Virginia with her family. You can visit her online at www.lmelliott.com.

About the Author(s) of Da Vinci’s Tiger

L. M. Elliott is the author of Da Vinci’s Tiger

Da Vinci’s Tiger Full Details

Narrator Elizabeth Wiley
Length 8 hours 6 minutes
Author L. M. Elliott
Category
Publisher Katherine Tegen Books
Release date November 10, 2015
ISBN 9780062444851

Subjects

The publisher of the Da Vinci’s Tiger is Katherine Tegen Books. includes the following subjects: The BISAC Subject Code is Art & Architecture, Juvenile Fiction

Additional info

The publisher of the Da Vinci’s Tiger is Katherine Tegen Books. The imprint is Katherine Tegen Books. It is supplied by Katherine Tegen Books. The ISBN-13 is 9780062444851.

Global Availability

This book is only available in the United States.

Goodreads Reviews

Debby

April 18, 2021

4 starsI love art, historical fiction, and Renaissance Italy - so how could I possibly resist Da Vinci's Tiger? With a premise that evoked loving memories of Sharon Biggs Waller's A Mad, Wicked Folly - arguably my favorite historical fiction title to date - this book shot up to the top of my to read list. And I am very, very pleased with it.Right away, what struck me upon reading Da Vinci's Tiger is how well-written and well-researched it is. This makes all the difference in historical fiction to me. You could tell from the first page that Elliott really knew what she was writing about. By reading the author's note at the end, you'll get a sense of how accurate her version of history is. That's a wonderful thing to behold. I was sucked into the setting and the lives of the characters instantly. Just after reading the prologue, I messaged friends saying this was bound to be GOOD.Elliott weaves her own version of history around the lives of Ginevra de' Benci, Leonardo Da Vinci, Bernardo Bembo, and Lorenzo de' Medici. They live the lives of the Florentine elite, where the clothes must be fancy, the parties must reek of excess, and there's a societal philosophical movement that's food for the soul. Ginevra has been stuck married to an older merchant, but she catches the eye of the Venetian ambassador, Bernardo Bembo, who wants her to become his Platonic muse.The Florentine people hold to strict ideals and are definitely more pious than most - a Platonic muse (or "friend") is not a sexual arrangement. The most wealthy and powerful men find muses that inspire honor, morals, and virtue and believe that by spending time in their presence (with their beauty and grace) they themselves will be blessed in their lives and upon their deaths. I didn't really know about this concept beforehand, but I loved how complex and intriguing the cultural tradition was. There's obviously a lot to say about the double standards between the sexes and the repression females face in their behavior - and Ginevra comments on all of them in her narrations, so don't fear. But being a Platonic muse also gives her more access to the high society folk - to see how policies and decisions are made. It's more interesting than running a household, for sure.Given that the story takes place in high society, expect enough events to fully draw you into the mystique of the time period. There are balls, jousting tournaments, horse races, philosophical poetry discussions, and finally... art commissions. Yes, the title doesn't mention Da Vinci for nothing - the master himself plays a prominent role in the story as a young artist, just starting out, who manages to be commissioned by Bernardo to paint Ginevra's portrait. Through their sessions together, he encourages her intelligence and independence, and she inspires him to take risks in his art, leading to some of the revolutionary techniques he is so well known for. Those scenes were magical and inspiring, and their friendship was beautiful.I guess what kept me from really being fully in love with this book is that there's not really a romance to root for. Ginevra is obviously in a loveless marriage, and although Bernardo is very much interested in her to become his Platonic muse, she never really seems to feel anything for him either. She's flattered by his interest, and she sees that their arrangement provides her with benefits that she otherwise wouldn't have as a married woman. But there's no real love there, and Bernado creeped me out more than once. (In my head I kind of pictured a skeezy old dude throwing himself at a 17 year old, so, yeah, no.) The most interesting person that vaguely attracted my shipping sensibilities would be Leonardo himself, but that ship never actually sets sail.So yeah, no romantic flutterings to set my heart on fire, but at the same time I don't feel like I can really fault the book for that. It did remain historically accurate, and as a feminist tale within the restrictions of Renaissance Florence, I feel like the story was definitely strong. I just think I was so focused on getting some romance here or there that I got distracted from the feminist storyline - or that that part of the book wasn't emphasized enough. Certainly, the ending could have done a bit more to show Ginevra's breaking free of the societal restrictions and expectations. (view spoiler)[And life within the convent mostly remained a mystery. (hide spoiler)] That, I feel, was a missed opportunity. Summing Up: I want more historical fiction like Da Vinci's Tiger: well-written, excellently researched, dripping in historical accuracy, and with a beautiful evocative setting. The hopeless romantic in me would have liked the prospect of a ship and some wonderful kissing, but this book serves well as a feminist tale in a really restrictive portion of history. And all of the art - and getting a glimpse of the beginnings of Leonardo da Vinci - was a wonderful, inspiring bonus. Definitely a great read. GIF it to me straight! Recommended To: Fans of feminist, well-written historical fiction - A Mad, Wicked Folly is a good parallel.*An electronic advance review copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the contents of the review.["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>

Kayla

September 29, 2017

I enjoyed this a lot! But it was at times difficult to follow especially at the beginning and I do think it sometimes reads a little cheesy. Sometimes the dialogue sounded silly. But I did like Ginevra as a character and appreciated how historically accurate this book seemed. It was nice reading about a real person, although fictional does give a possible insight into the real Ginevra de’ Benci. I did take an art history class in which I learned a great deal about the Medici so it was easier to follow along but if you haven’t learned about the Medici at all than this might be a little difficult to follow along. Overall this was a very sweet and easy read. 3.75/5

Kelesea

November 07, 2015

Title: Da Vinci's TigerAuthor: L.M. ElliottAge Group: Teen/Young AdultGenre: Historical FictionSeries: N/AStar Rating: 5 out of 5 StarsThis book was given to me by the publisher, Katherine Tegen Books, through Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review--thank you so much!I don't know if you guys know this about me, but one of the things I love dearly is history, and one of my favorite periods in history is the Renaissance. It was just such a fruitful time for cultural growth--art, culture, literature and music exploded, becoming revered professions from the fame garnered from that period. And one of my other favorite things about this period was the art. (Although, guys, don't take Art History in college. One of the hardest classes I ever took! Lol.)Da Vinci's Tiger tells the story of Ginevra de Benci, a young woman who longs desperately to be a part of the cultural world, ruled by men's iron fists. Try as she might, she is just not content with the life of a mere domestic housewife--she wants more from the world, and to contribute to it. Her wish is granted when she catches the eye of the promising young artist Leonardo da Vinci, and she realizes that even though the world is more open to her now than ever before, real love just might be right out of reach..I don't want to mince words, so I'll just say this right now: This book, for me, is a new classic. It really spoke to me, as a woman and as a writer, just like Ginevra, to balance the domestic sides of herself, and the longing for true meaning, and for an artistic career, which, for a woman, was out of bounds in those days. I really related to her, and her desire for love and fulfillment, in the days where a business marriage wasn't uncommon.I loved Ginevra, and Elliott does an amazing job of bringing this bright and exceptional young woman to life--it felt, almost, as if I were sitting with a dear friend, and having her tell me about her life. She was indeed a muse, a poet, and revolutionary in her own right! I also loved how deep she was; there were so many different facets to her, (as there are with any person), and I liked the way the author expressed that.I also really enjoyed the political intrigue aspect of the novel--it didn't really come into play into the second half of the novel, but it was really well balanced with the other events going on in the story, it wasn't at all heavy-handed. The author also did a great job in conveying that time period, especially where women were concerned. The characters, though there were many, were easy to follow, and I loved how each made an impact on Ginevra's life, great and small.And then, of course, there's Leonardo, the mysterious, beautiful artist, alluring in his intellect and his blunt, honest manner, who becomes one of the muse's dearest friends. Their relationship was what really sold this book for me. Their bond seemed so deep and genuine, and I really enjoyed it. Everything about this novel was just wonderful; so much so, in fact, that I finished it in one day! The bottom line: A fantastic imagining of what could've been a life for a great woman, Da Vinci's Tiger is a spellbinding work of historical fiction, bulked by fact and made richer by great detail and research--a new favorite! Next on deck: The Sea of Trolls by Nancy Farmer!literatureobsessed.blogspot.com

Kat

January 23, 2016

I probably wouldn't have picked this book to read myself--I'm probably unusual for a history teacher in that I'm not super into the Renaissance. It came with my OwlCrate subscription last month, which is actually great, because part of why I signed up for OwlCrate was so I would read books I might not chose to read on my own. When I read middle grade and YA, part of me is reading for what my 6th graders would like--and for what would be appropriate for them. I'm finding 6th grade to be a tough grade to find books for, since they have such a wide range of interests, reading abilities, and maturity levels (this is probably true for middle school in general). A lot of YA is just not appropriate, but I don't want to only have middle grade books, given that some of my students have much higher reading levels (we use AR in my school), and a lot of YA titles generate a lot more interest. Additionally, I'm building my classroom library to be as diverse as possible in every sense; I never want students to feel limited in their reading. OwlCrate is awesome in directing my reading a little more, and helping me not just blindly rely on Scholastic's middle school categories in buying new books for my students. It ensures that at least once a month, I'm reading a book that my students might love. Da Vinci's Tiger is exactly the kind of book OwlCrate is perfect for--I wouldn't think to read it, but a lot of my students would love it.The book was a little slow going for me--it starts at a jousting tournament, which isn't something I find particularly interesting--but it picks up quickly. The narrator is 16 year old Ginevra de'Benci, whose prosperous Florentine family is connected to the Medicis. Fresh from her convent education, the poetry-writing, Latin-quoting Ginevra was bargined into marrying a wool merchant, and is frustrated by her place in a society where women are pawns for social advantage. When an ambassador from Venice selects her as his Platonic muse--a woman to love and be inspired by for her virtue--Ginevra finds herself with access to the intellectually stimulating Medici circle. The real heart of the story, however, is her growing friendship with a young Leonardo da Vinci, the ambassador commissions to paint Ginevra's portrait. Ginevra is a fun character, and seeing her react to Leonardo's unconventional worldview--especially his feminist ideas about women--is a delight. I really appreciated how the times when Ginevra is most free and has the most autonomy are the times that, on the surface, seem the most passive: modeling for a man to paint her portrait that another man ordered and paid for, and her visits (and later, her stay) at the convent where she was educated. Both Ginevra and Leonardo transform the painting, and the experience of being painted, from one that provides the ambassador with a show of his wealth and influence, to one that displays Ginevra's boldness, independence, and intelligence. For Ginevra, the convent has always been a place of freedom: set away from the men, gossip, and politics of Florence, Ginevra is free to study and write her poems. In the convent, living only with other women, Ginevra's life is her own. Even though Ginevra does develop romantic feelings for Leonardo--something I knew was coming as soon as I saw the title of the book--those unrequited feelings don't leave her a tragic figure, and the story is not a romance. Part of why I was a little apprehensive about reading it was because I was worried it would be some overwrought romance between Ginevra and Leonardo, and I was so relieved that the story wasn't that at all. This is definitely a book I'm going to keep in my classroom and recommend to students. The story is very grounded in historical research and real people and events. L. M. Elliott's inspiration for the book is the actual portrait of Ginevra that Leonardo painted, which is located in D.C.'s National Gallery of Art. The afterword is an explanation of the book's historical grounding, and it's followed by a bibliography--both things that, as an educator, made me really happy to see. This would be a great class novel to read in a 7th grade ELA class, alongside the Renaissance unit. This book could also center a unit on historical fiction--you could spend a lot of time with students discussing and examining where the author filled in the gaps with her imagination, and what she did with the research she had. I also really like how the book gave the thinkers and works of Ancient Greece and Rome such a strong presence--in addition to being historically accurate, that can also help students see the connections between Ancient Greece and Rome, which they studied in 6th grade, and the Renaissance.Sadly, there isn't an AR quiz for the book, but since a lot of the author's other books have quizzes, I'm hoping that there will be a quiz for it eventually--the book just came out in 2015, so maybe it's too soon for a quiz.

Leelynn

March 09, 2016

"Most importantly, you make the choice of songs you sing within the case. With your mind and gifts, it can be an exquisite litany. Sing of us. Sing of yourself. Sing of what treasure lies inside women's hearts and minds if men but look beyond their preconceived notions. We think, we feel, we bleed when hurt. We have courage when tested. Someday men may laud rather than fear that. That is my hope.So sing, Ginevra. Make them listen."Italy. 1400s. Renaissance. This is a time where artists are trying to find their muse, and bring the beauty of their subject to life, whether it's through a painting or through a sculpture. This is the time of Donatello, Leonardo Da Vinci, and all the other greats that history has come to know about. It is in this setting, so far into the past, that history comes to life, in the eyes of one particular girl in Italian history. Her name is Ginevra de' Benci, and this is her story.One of the things that stands out a lot about Ginevra is her lack of fear when it comes to speaking her mind. This is clearly shown during the first chapter, while she and her friend Simonetta are watching the jousting competition. She hears some men in the audience speaking ill of her brother, calling him names and basically saying that he is a fool for spending so much money on a particular horse. She has no problem standing up to them, using her wit to give those men a run for their money. They didn't even realize that they were insulting her brother until she spoke up. More examples of her assertive demeanor is prominent throughout the book, and it's what makes her so easy to root for.As a woman living in Italy during the 1400s, we see how women are treated back then if they are considered beautiful enough to win the Platonic heart of a man in high power. Simonetta was the Platonic love of one of the Medici sons, and Ginevra became the Platonic love of Ambassador Bembo. We also see that the fact that Ginevra is a poet is rare in and of itself, since there are very few - if any at all - female poets during this time period. In fact, it is one of her poems that catches the eye of Ambassador Bembo to her in the first place, although it is revealed later on in the novel that that may not have been the case. Her poems are deep, reaching into the very depths of human soul, and because she is a woman, she is sometimes afraid to show her talent to those in power. It's with the help of her Mother Superior, Mother Scolastica, that helps her to "sing" of her talents, so that other women can be seen as more than just their beauty.I may not be an expert in Italian Renaissance history, but I was really impressed with the attention to detail that went into this book. The author even sited all of her sources in the end of the book, as if this were a college historical essay rather than a Young Adult fictional story. It made the story seem that much more real, as if it were an autobiography I was reading rather than a work of art. That was part of the appeal to me, and I'm very glad that the author decided to write the book this way. Ginevra was a force to be reckoned with, and with the help of Leonardo Da Vinci, she became a legend that we can still see to this very day. She was a mountain tiger, and that's what she will be remembered as.

Yvonne

January 05, 2016

I received this book in OwlCrate's December 2015 box.I don't typically read much historical fiction. In fact, I usually have trouble getting past the first few chapters. A lot of the time, the writing is too dry for me, and I feel like the author is trying way too hard to sound like the book belongs in the correct time period that they do not succeed in taking me there. Da Vinci's Tiger, however, was riveting. I love anything that has anything to do with art and painting, so I dove into this book the moment I opened the box! I was not turned off by the writing style. In fact, the way it started was straight with a scene, not describing everything that might possibly have to do with the time period, so I was interested from the get go. I was disappointed that Leonardo Da Vinci was not a major plot-driving character, but it is historical fiction, and it is true to what is known of this story. Also, it technically isn't his story anyways. I did adore how the protagonist watched him with such an eye and how she fell so in love with watching him work that we got to experience the details some authors might ignore. If I didn't know what the techniques were called, I would have been lost, but my artist heart swelled at the descriptions because I knew what they meant.Ginevra was not my favorite protagonist, but if she was anything like the author portrays her in this novel, I could see how so many were inspired by her. Da Vinci, Verocchio, Landino, and Bembo were all so taken with her. She is quite naive at times, but everybody is naive sometimes, so I forgive. I do like the depth of the characters. They felt real (well, probably because they were... But the author has no way of knowing that 100% so it's still an accomplishment.) Simonetta drew me in most, having been described with such beauty that all of the town was taken by her, and yet she was still humble and kind. Bernardo threw me off most of the novel, so much so I could not tell if I adored or despised him.My favorite part of this novel, though, it the last ten pages, which the author titled "Afterword," where she goes into detail about everything she found while researching and gives us all the information we need to understand why she wrote her novel this way. I'm incredibly thankful that L.M. Elliot was true to the characters' sexual orientations. I don't know how I would have gotten through it if she had written Da Vinci as straight.(I’m pretty sure this isn’t a spoiler… Since it’s history.)I'm happy that this is the first book I've read in 2016. If you like historical fiction and/or love the arts,i but would recommend this.

Annina

February 23, 2016

Great book set in an exciting time in history--the Florence of Lorenzo de Medici & a young Leonardo da Vinci. Well-written, thoughtful story about the young poetess and subject for the Leonardo painting "Ginevra de' Benci" and how the portrait came to be painted.

Kat

May 08, 2018

Interesting and captivating imagining into a historic window of time. In some ways the authors threading together of what’s know of that time, portrayed the beginnings of feminist philosophies, through the meeting of souls of Leonardo and Ginevra. I enjoyed the Afterword where the author laid out the known details of which she thread together this story. Clarifying what was historical and what imagined.

Saruuh

March 21, 2016

((4.5 stars))This book is beautiful and sad and empowering.There's not much I can say about it, because you really need to read the book and experience it yourself. It's not a love story in a traditional sense. It tells of the pitfalls of being a woman - and of what men expect when you show an interest in them and when they buy you nice things (I'm talking about 15th century fuckboys here. It's ridiculous and well written and you think the guy is fairly nice until he's suddenly not, and this might be historical but it's SO RELEVANT now.) But that's only a small part of the story - the rest is Ginevra's story, a girl navigating life among politics and societal expectations, and I make it sound boring but it's not. There's also a beautiful, mutual platonic love that is heartfelt and sad and resonates outside the pages. I wish there were more books with platonic love, and not just in this time period when it was fashionable.A couple other notable things: feminism in the 1400s, the restrictions on women and how one girl veru subtly and cleverly rebels against it, beautifully intricate world building, homophobia, brilliant representation of religion (in a positive light!!), and a serious, palpable passion for art on every page.An achingly beautiful story.

Mia

December 29, 2016

4.5 StarsOne word: fascinating. As a lover of art history and historical fiction, this novel captivated me like no other book has before. The author's ability to intricately weave bits of fact within such an intriguing, dramatic story absolutely blew me away. You will never see Leonardo da Vinci and the Italian Renaissance the same way again. I also adored how the whole novel was based around one portrait - it's truely a triumph of human creativity and expression. This is literature based on art, poetry, and figures from hundreds of years ago that still manages to convey an entirely relavent message. I only took off half a star because I found the beginning of the novel rather slow and drawn out. There are no words to describe how interesting and unique this book was, it's like watching the most intense episode of a show on the History Channel while also viewing the most gorgeous, introspective work of art that draws you in and never lets you leave. Highly highly recommend this!

Cameron

January 11, 2016

*TRIGGER WARNING: There is a scene with sexual assault in the book, so if that is something that affects you please take that into consideration before reading this book*I did like the writing in this book. It was very enchanting and descriptive. The Renaissance period is a very interesting period. What I found interesting was having a young Leonardo Da Vinci. Have any of you guys seen the movie Ever After? https://s-media-cache ak0.pinimg.com/736x/51/4d/33/514d33f2...This is what I see whenever I see the name Leonardo Da Vinci. But yes, if you like historical fiction and art, in any form, this is a good book for you to pick up. It's quite short and it's really easy to get through. I was also very happy with the feminist undertone of the book.

Rachael

January 08, 2016

Hello? A book about art, history, and life during the Medici period in Florence, what's not to love! Some of my favourite reads have been about florentine artists - and their subjects - so having a book about Ginerva and Leonardo da Vinci ticked boxes for me. I found her a fascinating woman for her time and enjoyed the story, characters and setting very much. An easy read, not taxing at all, and a pretty creative background to the famous portrait....

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