The Rossetti Letter

I read this while I was in Venice...

Although most of this book is fictional, the world of Venice and its history is very real. I was in vacation in Venice while I was reading this book and I was conflicted about experiencing Venice through the book or in real life! Granted, I was visiting in winter and it was freezing, so sitting in my hotel reading was not an odd thing to do... but it really was a page turner.. or for us nook users, a button pusher. At first, I kept wanted to read the sections about Rossetti, because they were such interesting chapters, but then as the modern day characters developed and plot thickened, I became excited to read the current day chapters. I'm mostly a historical fiction person, and this was a great breath of fresh air, as its half modern day and half historical. An absolute must read.

The Rossetti Letter is a Treat

The Rosetti Letter is a wonderful mix of historical fiction and modern chick Lit. Christi Phillips has done a lot of research and it shows in her depiction of Venice in the 16th century. What I really like about her novel, is the way she flips back and forth between present and past so the reader doesn't get bogged down in historical fiction which can be a little tiresome sometimes. Her writing style is simple but effective and the plot is entertaining.

Interesting Historial Fiction

I really enjoyed this story. The modern day hunt for the facts so long ago hidden. I thought that the characters were great and enjoyed how the two stories were interwoven so that the disertation topic and the facts behind it were fully explained and made the search for the facts in the disertation that much more interesting.

Good Story

It was a good quick read. I enjoyed it.
I also recommend anything ANYTHING at all by Diana Gabaldon. My favorite author.

Great historical novel!

Historical novel are one of my favorite genres and this was a really good one. I was entertained thoroughly and highly recommend it. I will check out other novels by this author for sure.

a good fun historical read

i really liked this book and Phillip's writing. her weaving of the story keeps you hanging and wanting more. the story is one that is under the radar- in a good way. not many people have heard of the spanish conspiracy against venice. this book is a different type of historical novel that tells a great story.

The Rossetti Letter captures ones interest from the first chapter.

The author has woven an interesting storyline combined with some historical fact. The characters are portrayed in a colorful manner. One definitedly gets a good idea of what life is like for a courtesan in the 1400's.

Oh, To Be in Venice

I picked The Rosetti Letter because it was set in Venice. The wonderful thing about Venice is that it changes little through the centuries and so it is always familiar.
I sent the book to my cousin who loves historical novels but has never been to Venice. She liked the book also.
The book is exciting and full of suspense. It goes back and forth between the present and centuries ago. There is suspense, intrigue, romance and some history.
The story is based upon the Spanish Conspiracy which may or may not have occurred. Our heroine chaperones a brat to Venice in order to attend an important conference which she hopes will provide insight into the work she is doing on the Spanish Conspiracy. She gets to the conference, meets a man, makes an enemy of his girlfriend and finds materials at the library that confirm her point of view.
The materials indicate the existence of the Spanish Conspiracy which is in hot debate at the conference and perhaps confirm the existence of a dazzling courtesan who found herself in the middle of the Spanish Conspiracy. The novel becomes the story of the two women. Both women are worthy heroines and are tested in dangerous situations - physically and emotionally. Will they survive?

You'll feel like you're really in Venice

This is a great read...Very well written, with wonderful descriptions of Venice. You'll feel like you're there. Very impressive debut novel for Christi Phillips. It mixes history with romance and adventure. The Rossetti Letter is about a courtesan who gets involved in a plot to overthrow the Venetian Republic by the Spanish.

Excellent historical fiction novel

I just completed this novel while on vacation and loved it. Christi Phillips did a wonderful job mixing fact with fiction and I am now inspired to learn more about the lives of courtesans and Venetian history. Don't let the size of the book fool you. This is a quick read and I didn't want to put the book down, and I'm sure you will feel the same way. Give it a try. Christi Phillips also does a great job of keeping the suspense and mystery alive in this novel not only with the Venetian heroine, but with the American historian studying Alessandra Rossetti's past. I look forward to reading Christi Phillips' next novel, The Devlin Diary.

Excellent storytelling!

Outstanding book of adventure, history, excitement, mystery and romance. I loved the journey! Anxiously looking forward to more books by Christi Phillips.

Actually Pretty Good

I enjoyed this book a lot more than I thought I would. It was entertaining and plausible, with good characters.

Excellent

PH.D candidate Claire Donovan¿s thesis focuses on the role courtesan Alessandra Rossetti played in preventing a Spanish Conspiracy to overthrow the Venetian Republic government in 1618. A letter written by Rossetti is the primary source for Claire¿s paper and related efforts to obtain recognition for the seventeenth century heroine amongst historians.--------------- Cambridge University History Professor Andrew Kent disagrees with Claire¿s basic premise. He feels the evidence is rather strong that Rossetti abetted the Spanish cause to remove from power the Venetian government. His efforts if proven correct destroy her thesis. Andrew and Claire agree to work together to uncover the truth behind the renowned Venetian courtesan.--------------- Mindful in some ways of Lauren Willig¿s Eloise Kelly tales, THE ROSSETTI LETTER is a delightful combination historical fiction and contemporary academic romantic mystery. Due to rotating perspective, readers ironically know more about Rossetti and the 1618 Spanish Conspiracy than the history professor and the graduate student. Though some minor subplots like those involving Andrew¿s Italian girlfriend and Claire¿s Italian suitor and her chaperoning a fourteen years old teenage ¿ward provide some insight into their characters, these feel intrusive as the prime theme is for the modern day academic ¿sleuths¿ to uncover the almost four century old secrets of what occurred. Overall fans will enjoy this entertaining historiography tale seen through rose colored glasses.--------------- Harriet Klausner

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