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Title: His Last Duchess

Author: Gabrielle Kimm

Narrator: Gabrielle Kimm

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10 hrs and 37 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-22-12

Publisher: Hachette Audio UK

Ratings: 2.5 of 5 out of 3 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

When 16-year-old Lucrezia de' Medici marries the fifth Duke of Ferrara, Alfonso d'Este, she imagines life with her handsome husband will be idyllic. But little does she know that he is a very complicated man. The marriage is fraught with difficulties from the start, and, as time passes, Lucrezia becomes increasingly alienated. For Alfonso, the pressure mounts as the Vatican threatens to reclaim his title should the couple remain unable to produce an heir. Only his lover Francesca seems able to tame his increasing fury. But Alfonso's growing resentment towards his duchess soon becomes unbearable, and he begins to plot an unthinkable way to escape his problems.

Originally inspired by a Robert Browning poem, His Last Duchess gorgeously brings to life the passions and people of 16th-century Tuscany and Ferrara. It is a story you are unlikely to forget for a long time.

Members Reviews:

Enjoyed!

This book is not only the story of the twisted Duke of Ferrera, Alfonso and his wife Lucrezia de Medici, but also of a whole group of people who rely on the two for support, either financially or emotionally. When Lucrezia and the Duke marry, Lucrezia is looking forward to her new life as wife, mother, Duchess. On their wedding night, the sadistic Duke finds that he can't reconcile his perfect still-life image of what his Duchess should be with the real girl in front of him, and thus begins two frustrating years of impotence which he increasingly blames on Lucrezia. When the Vatican tells him that the Duchy will be forfeit if he does not produce an heir, he decides he must be rid of his imperfect Duchess...meanwhile Lucrezia has found happiness in the arms of a simple painter's apprentice who has been working in their castello. Will they be found out? And can the people who truly care for Lucrezia save her in time? The prologue suggests not, and I will say no more.

The book is based on a poem by Robert Browning, and it is pretty amazing that the author wrote an entire novel (and sequel which I look forward to reading!)based on such a short poem. This was well-researched and written and I enjoyed it.

Well crafted historical novel.

This novel was well thought out and researched, well crafted and beautifully edited. It is really a treat not to stumble over misspelled words or completely incorrect words as well as poor punctuation. There was little to none of that in this book. Reading it was a pure pleasure.

My only complaints: I would have liked to know a bit more about Alfonso. In some settings, he seemed to display affection and compassion toward his dog, horse and mistress. There was an allusion to some event in his childhood that caused his mental anguish, but I never understood what it was. His mother was missing from his life, but there must have been something more.

Also, I wish the story had continued on for a bit more to relish the happiness of the loving couple who beat the odds. It ended all too soon. I enjoyed this book very much.

A gripping historical novel that is both passionate and dark

The poem "My Last Duchess" by Robert Browning is one of my favorites, and so I was eager to read this novel. It was a very enjoyable read. I also enjoyed another novel that was loosely based upon this poem, "The Second Duchess" by Elizabeth Loupas.