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About this Book
Trade Paperback
576 Pages, 5.25 x 8 x 1.3 in
September 1, 1998
Simon & Schuster
0684848406
9780684848402
From Our Editors
As she recreates life in Renaissance Italy in captivating detail, Park creates a timeless portrait of a brave and brilliant woman trapped in an unforgiving, inflexible society.
From the Publisher
The Secret Book of Grazia dei Rossi is a sweeping tale of
intrigue and romance set in a time rife with court politics, papal
chicanery, religious intolerance, and inviolable social rules.
Grazia, private secretary to the world-renowned Isabella d''Este,
is the daughter of an eminent Jewish banker, the wife of the
pope''s Jewish physician, and the lover of a Christian prince. In a
"secret book," written as a legacy for her son, she records her
struggles to choose between the seductions of the Christian world
and a return to the family, traditions, and duties of her Jewish
roots. As she re-creates Renaissance Italy in captivating detail,
Jacqueline Park gives us a timeless portrait of a brave and
brilliant woman trapped in an unforgiving, inflexible society.
About the Author
Jacqueline Park is the founding chairman of the
Dramatic Writing Program and professor emerita at New York
University''s Tisch School of the Arts. Born and educated in
Canada, she now lives in New York, Toronto, and Miami Beach.
Bookclub Guide
Reading Group Discussion Points
- In The Secret Book of Grazia dei Rossi, fiction and
history are seamlessly woven together. Discuss how Ms. Park
achieves this. What "liberties" does she take that a non-fiction
author could not? What details does she use to make the world alive
and vivid? How does the device of the secret book contribute to the
veracity of the world?
- Both God and fortune are invoked by the characters to explain
existence. Grazia writes, "Fortune favors the bold," and "Fortuna
is never as generous as she likes to appear." She also writes, "For
a time, we stood huddled together in front of the wreckage of
Gallic''s banco, too stunned by the vastness of God''s
indifference." What is the difference between fortune and God in
the novel? What is the role of fortune in the lives of the
characters? What is the role of God?
- In The Secret Book of Grazia dei Rossi, Ms. Park
re-creates the life of the court and the great houses of the Jews.
Grazia writes, "It is said that no one in Mantova, save the
Gonzagas themselves, owned more elegant tableware than Rachel dei
Rossi." Though the riches of the Gonzagas and the dei Rossis may be
similar, their lives and values are different. In what ways do
their views on money, education, and religion differ? How are they
similar?
- In the world of Renaissance Italy, the lives of the Jews and
the aristocracy are very separate yet closely entwined at the same
time. How are their lives linked? How do they depend upon each
other? What role do the Jews play in the cultural and economic life
of Renaissance Italy?
- Grazia''s father is a gambler and bargaining is a part of his
business at the bank. Both the Jews and the aristocracy engage in
gambling and bargaining. Discuss the role both activities play in
their lives. Is the ability to bargain respected? What does it take
to be a good "bargainer"? Are similar skills used in negotiating
the affairs of state and the affairs of the bank?
- Grazia writes with regards to Isabella and her son that, "the
correspondence between mother and son constitutes a veritable
lexicon of double-dealing evasion and betrayal." Why does she
characterize their relations this way? What circumstances give rise
to this type of relationship? Finally, Grazia says that "the Palace
is maintained by compromise and opportunism," and "why do sensible
nations entrust themselves to these royal monsters and half-wits?"
Why do you think they do?
- Grazia writes that the Gonzagas let "the dei Rossi men display
their colors...Jehiel was a prince that night. He made our house a
palace. My father was a king and all of us were members of a royal
family," adding that "Jews are back in style." Why does Grazia
compare her family to nobility? Why do the Jews imitate the
princes? And what are the reasons for banishing and then
reinstating the Jews at court?
- Grazia''s parents were "adherents of all things modern and
humanistic." She writes that she was not raised by strict Jewish
law that stated, "First the child is allured; then the strap is
laid upon his back." What is the difference between a Jewish
education and a humanist education? What characterizes humanism?
What characterizes Judaism? What are the differences between the
two tenets?
- Grazia''s tutor at her grandmother''s house says, "that it is
not proper for a devout Jewish girl to speak Latin." Furthermore,
her grandmother tells Grazia that "books destroy a woman''s brains"
and that books and study have corrupted Grazia''s virtue. Why are
knowledge and scholarship for women looked down upon in the Jewish
religion? Is this a religious phenomenon or a societal one? Is it
any different for the Christian princesses, and if so why? How does
Grazia succeed in becoming a scholar?
- When Grazia''s father is caught "coin clipping" the Duke''s
coins, the Duke forgives him and turns him over to his own people
to administer justice. The Wad Kellilah tribune finds Grazia''s
father guilty, and in his excommunication ceremony they treat him
horribly, spitting on him and shaming him in front of other Jews.
Why are the Jews harsher to Grazia''s father than the aristocracy?
What is the psychology behind such behavior?
- Near the end of the novel, Gershorn recounts how he finally
understands why Judah always said, "A Jew must be an observing Jew;
there is no other kind; for ours is a religion of practice, not
transcendence," and is relieved of the "agony of living a double
life," of being a Jew and not practicing the rituals. Why was it
agony for him? How could the idea of a double life be considered
one of the themes of this novel? In what ways do Jehiel, Grazia,
and Judah live double lives? Do any of the Christian characters
lead double lives?
- Grazia gives her son a few pieces of advice in her secret book.
One is that he must stake his claim as a man and the other is that
he should never neglect the obligations of mourning. Why are these
two pieces of advice so important to Grazia? What else does she
want to impart to her son in writing this book? What kind of man
does Grazia hope Danilo will be?
- Grazia says in regard to her Book of Heroines that a great
woman is one who rises above others through, "intellect, daring, or
strength." According to this description of virtue, could Grazia
put herself in the Book of Heroines and if so, why?
- When Grazia fled Mantova as a child she took nothing because,
"God had told them [the Jews] to carry forth naught of the flesh
abroad out of the house, not even a bone." Grazia writes that she
had persuaded herself that, "if she followed God''s instruction to
the letter, He might bring them forth safely." Later, when Asher is
placed in )ail, she begins to question God. When Judah says to her
"put your faith in God''s mercy," Grazia thinks to herself that she
does not have "serene faith in God''s beneficence." Why is Grazids
faith shaken when Judah''s faith never is? What is Grazids
relationship to religion and to God?
- When Grazia fled Mantova as a child she took nothing because,
"God had told them [the Jews] to carry forth naught of the flesh
abroad out of the house, not even a bone." Grazia writes that she
had persuaded herself that, "if she followed God''s instruction to
the letter, He might bring them forth safely." Later, when Asher is
placed in jail, she begins to question God. When Judah says to her
"put your faith in God''s mercy," Grazia thinks to herself that she
does not have "serene faith in God''s beneficence." Why is
Grazia''s faith shaken when Judah''s faith never is? What is
Grazia''s relationship to religion and to God?
- What do you make of her final choice between husband and lover?
What effects does if have on her son? What is Ms. Park trying to
say through Grazia''s decision? Is there a moral to this
story?
From the Critics
Sue Miron The Miami HeraldWonderful. An absolutely
fascinating, compulsively readable novel about asixteen-century
woman who would be considered outstanding in any era.
See all Heather's Reviews
Heather's Review
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Heather Reisman
2 years ago
This is the ultimate curl up and read which reminded me most of Gone With The Wind, except it is set in Florence – at the height of the Renaissance. This is a great love story and a wonderful history lesson. What was particularly intriguing to me was discovering that the author created the entire story after discovering old letters in the New York Public Library – true documents of a correspondence between the Contessa of Florence and a passionate, poor young woman. The rest as they say is in… + read more
+ Learn more about Heather's reviews
Reviews from the Community18 Reviews
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Word Taster
This review is from: The Secret Book of Grazia Dei Rossi: A NOVEL (Hardcover)
7 months ago
A wonderful and rich historical novel of the incredible life of a strong Jewish woman during the Italian Renaissance. Park has clearly done her research, but rather than it bogging down the story, she uses it effortlessly to move the plot forward. It's been a really long time since I read historical fiction this good.
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Monica Nitulescu
2 months ago
I really enjoyed this book. Generally I find historical novels to be heavy and slow, but even though this book was packed with historical events, and their backgrounds I had a wonderful time reading it. Perhaps it's just the time and place described that are fascinating. The characters were masterfully crafted and interesting, and I found them thoroughly believable. The story is all the more fascinating knowing that it is based on a person that actually existed.
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Diana Creanga
13 months ago
I really enjoyed reading this book. I was skeptical about it at the beginning, the title did not win me over, however the story took me by surprise. The style is very engaging, I connected with the characters and the different events they were part of. I really appreciated the historical accurary, the main character seems to develop around the historical events and at no point I felt that the story was rushed or too slow. I enjoyed the references to Virgil's poems as well as the Italian, Latin… + read more
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Anya Rampersad
15 months ago
Usually books that contain a lot of historical accuracies tend to be heavy - the kind of read that you save when you feel full of patience on a cold winter's night (really, what else would there be to do!) This book was quite the opposite - it was probably the most researched historical fiction that I've read to date without compromising a plot and character development. The thoughtful memoir of Grazia dei Rossi's life brings a breathtaking world to life - images of royalty, discrimination… + read more
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xssnrg
16 months ago
Unusual time-frame, scholarly research, rich detail. Unusual for me, took a bit for me to warm up to the subject area and the heroine's motivation. Fascinated by details of Italy in the 1400's and the relationship plays made. Solid, well written and interesting.
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A Book Lover
2 years ago
It is very uncommon for me to struggle to finish a book and this is exactly what happened with this one. I found it to be well written, however I could not relate to any of the characters - least of all Grazia. Very slow paced, I thought it could easily have been edited by at least 100 pages. Apart from the great history lesson, I would not recommend this book.
see all 18 reviews