City of Silk | Glennis Virgo
REVIEWED BY LINDA HILL
In 1575’s Bologna, skilled seamstress Elena is determined to be a tailor, despite the fact that being a woman means the profession is unavailable to her. She’s equally determined to escape the malevolent influence of the all powerful and abusive Antonio della Fortuna. Neither task seems possible…
City Of Silk: book review & synopsis
City of Silk is a wonderful debut novel. Glennis Virgo transports her readers right to the heart of sixteenth century Bologna. The narrative tone through Elena’s voice is absolutely right for the era and yet is completely accessible. Indeed, the writing is as smooth as the very silk of the title. Attention to detail, with the senses at the heart of the writing, makes it impossible not to feel as if you’re there in the city because it’s portrayed so skilfully. There’s mystery in the narrative too, adding even more to captivate the reader, as the subterfuge and revenge intensify.
The sense of history and society that is infused in the story has obviously been meticulously researched, with the effect that there’s an impressively perfect blend of society, religion, class, race and gender. The vivid descriptions of the streets of Bologna, the festivals and the people are utterly fascinating. It’s as if the reader is walking beside Elena.
Love, betrayal and resilience…
These elements are all the more effective because modern society still adheres to many of the concepts explored, so that the story resonates deeply for today’s reader. It’s impossible not to be drawn in by the themes of social hierarchy, love, betrayal, determination and resilience that weave through the story. Sofia’s experiences, because of her ethnicity, the treatment of women, institutional corruption and sexism, are dealt with deftly so that they truly affect the reader. Equally effective is the fact that prejudices against women are balanced by Elena’s own occasionally biased or partisan opinions.
It’s this balance that makes Elena so compelling. She is certainly strong and feminist, but she is not without flaws, and can be selfish and unthinking, leading to unkindness, so that she feels not like a character in a story, but instead, a living, thinking, breathing young woman. I thought she was a magnificent creation.
City of Silk is historical writing of the most immersive, interesting and convincing kind. It’s hard to believe this is a debut novel. Comparisons with established historical fiction writers like Tracy Chevalier and Maggie O’Farrell could not be more well deserved. This is a fabulous book.
City Of Silk by Glennis Virgo is out now (Allison & Busby, HB, £22) and available from Amazon.
Read more fiction reviews by Linda Hill including Things We Lose In Waves by Lucy Ayrton, Beautiful People by Amanda Jennings, A Merry Little Christmas by Cathy Bramley, Miss Beeton’s Murder Agency by Josie Lloyd, It’s Getting Hot In Here by Jane Costello and A Christmas In Prague by Helga Jensen.
