The Last Courtesan of Venice

A lyrical and emotionally rich historical novel, The Last Courtesan of Venice reimagines the extraordinary life of Veronica Franco, the celebrated poet and courtesan of sixteenth-century Venice.

In a city where beauty, intellect, and wealth converge, Veronica rises from modest beginnings to become one of Venice’s most sought-after courtesans. She enters the glittering literary salons of Domenico Venier, where poets and intellectuals gather to debate, flirt, compose, and compete, and where Veronica earns a place for her own remarkable literary gifts. Her fame carries her into the circle of Venice’s most powerful men, even bringing her before foreign royalty who seek her out for her legendary beauty.

But Veronica’s greatest love and deepest vulnerability are her children. When a devastating plague sweeps through the city, she must navigate a society gripped by fear while fighting to keep her family together. As her fame grows, so do the dangers of a life lived in public—love, ambition, scandal, and the unforgiving judgment of Church and society.