`Beautifully written, I could not put it down... a tale of ambition, lust, betrayal and heartbreak...a compelling and enormously enjoyable work' Evening Standard `On the academic front, here is the old Chevalier, exact and guarded, accurate and self-contained...On the erotic front, she positively explodes, the shy smiles of Pearl Earring replaced by a terrific torrent of carnal imagery, every sense invoked and appetite exploited' Guardian 'Tracy Chevalier gives the kiss of life to the historical novel' Independent `With great insight, invention and a remarkable eye for detail, Chevalier breathes life into artists and artisans, their subjects and surroundings and, most important, their magnificent creations' Washington Post `The story she weaves is as lush as the tapestries she describes, and her colorful characters leap off the page. A romantic, beautiful book' Booklist