Tracy Chevalier

Interweaves historical fact with fiction to explore the mystery behind the creation of the remarkable Lady and the Unicorn tapestries, woven at the end of the fifteenth century, which today hang in the Cluny Museum in Paris.

The Lady and the Unicorn

The lady and the unicorn

The Lady and the Unicorn was a unique and enthralling read for me. It tells the fictional story behind the very real 'Unicorn' tapestries of the late medieval/early Renaissance period. A short read, coming in at 250 pages, yet a fully realized and developed story, this was an easy 5 stars for me. 

The story moved fast, yet it was so complete, and the author skillfully and beautifully used her imagination to create a backstory of these six tapestries that, though iconic, are still a bit of a mystery in terms of their origin and purpose. And with so much detail, this is one of those books you need to read a couple times to really grasp and catch everything. Tracy Chevalier can do so much with so little! 

I found myself often referring and referencing back to the cover (I took the dust jacket off) because not only is it beautiful, but it's actually one of the Unicorn tapestries. Having that visual aid really helped me picture how the tapestries were made and what they turned out to look like. This book is truly stunning, inside and out. Taking place in Paris and Brussels, one of my only complaints of this book is that too much French was used! I don't speak French, and it gets tedious to look up words; not all can be understood through context clues alone. It's not a big deal if you don't understand a few words and phrases here and there, but I like to get the most out of everything I read. 

One quirk of this book I noticed was it seemed to be in both present and past tense at the same time. For example, on page 94 of my edition, "I smiled now when Philippe announced..." This is not the best example probably, but that blending of tenses made it hard to determine when the story was being told (after the events took place, etc.). This is not a complaint; to the contrary, I enjoyed the unique voice. I found this use of tenses unusual, but the book itself stands out from other historical fiction, much like the author's "Girl With A Pearl Earring" novel that I also absolutely loved. The Lady and the Unicorn wasn't quite as good as that book IMO, but they're both easily 5 stars. I love hist fic that is different and utterly transportive, especially in new time periods and settings (for me) that aren't written about much. And while I typically prefer women's hist fic, I liked the male perspective included in this novel. I also prefer first person POV, so this was a win-win for me. Highly recommend if you enjoy art, history, strong characters, exploring new settings and more! 

Even if I enjoyed some characters' POVs better than others (and there were 7!--that's a lot for such a short book, but it made it go by faster) each voice was strong and unique. The ending felt a little abrupt and was certainly melancholy, but it didn't take away from my overall enjoyment. I read another review that said this book's main theme is desire, and that is spot on. Though, just because it's about desire (as the tapestries demonstrate) not everyone gets what they want in the end. CAUTION: Minor spoilers below. 

In regards to the ending, though, it seems most everyone had a happy-ish ending, except for Claude and Nicolas. Why is that? And they never even had a chance to be together; sure, Claude grew as a person and as a woman, but she's the only character who has no sliver of happiness at the end, who didn't get what they desired at all. She and Nicolas were punished for an affair that never even had a chance to bloom! This doesn't take away from my 5 stars; it certainly makes me think and feel for these characters, I'm truly just curious why they couldn't have been together or had some semblance or prospect of happiness. Alienor was one of my favorite characters, and her story arc was not so sad as Claude's, which I am glad for, but it's sad that one woman got what she wanted and the other did not. I realize this would be typical of women of their time, though, for Alienor was not a noblewoman and could have better luck in her choice of husband. I could go on and on about this book! It's so deep, provocative and more.

Amanda

The Lady and the Unicorn was a unique and enthralling read for me. It tells the fictional story behind the very real 'Unicorn' tapestries of the late medieval/early Renaissance period. A short read, coming in at 250 pages, yet a fully realized and developed story, this was an easy 5 stars for me. 

The story moved fast, yet it was so complete, and the author skillfully and beautifully used her imagination to create a backstory of these six tapestries that, though iconic, are still a bit of a mystery in terms of their origin and purpose. And with so much detail, this is one of those books you need to read a couple times to really grasp and catch everything. Tracy Chevalier can do so much with so little! 

I found myself often referring and referencing back to the cover (I took the dust jacket off) because not only is it beautiful, but it's actually one of the Unicorn tapestries. Having that visual aid really helped me picture how the tapestries were made and what they turned out to look like. This book is truly stunning, inside and out. Taking place in Paris and Brussels, one of my only complaints of this book is that too much French was used! I don't speak French, and it gets tedious to look up words; not all can be understood through context clues alone. It's not a big deal if you don't understand a few words and phrases here and there, but I like to get the most out of everything I read. 

One quirk of this book I noticed was it seemed to be in both present and past tense at the same time. For example, on page 94 of my edition, "I smiled now when Philippe announced..." This is not the best example probably, but that blending of tenses made it hard to determine when the story was being told (after the events took place, etc.). This is not a complaint; to the contrary, I enjoyed the unique voice. I found this use of tenses unusual, but the book itself stands out from other historical fiction, much like the author's "Girl With A Pearl Earring" novel that I also absolutely loved. The Lady and the Unicorn wasn't quite as good as that book IMO, but they're both easily 5 stars. I love hist fic that is different and utterly transportive, especially in new time periods and settings (for me) that aren't written about much. And while I typically prefer women's hist fic, I liked the male perspective included in this novel. I also prefer first person POV, so this was a win-win for me. Highly recommend if you enjoy art, history, strong characters, exploring new settings and more! 

Even if I enjoyed some characters' POVs better than others (and there were 7!--that's a lot for such a short book, but it made it go by faster) each voice was strong and unique. The ending felt a little abrupt and was certainly melancholy, but it didn't take away from my overall enjoyment. I read another review that said this book's main theme is desire, and that is spot on. Though, just because it's about desire (as the tapestries demonstrate) not everyone gets what they want in the end. CAUTION: Minor spoilers below. 

In regards to the ending, though, it seems most everyone had a happy-ish ending, except for Claude and Nicolas. Why is that? And they never even had a chance to be together; sure, Claude grew as a person and as a woman, but she's the only character who has no sliver of happiness at the end, who didn't get what they desired at all. She and Nicolas were punished for an affair that never even had a chance to bloom! This doesn't take away from my 5 stars; it certainly makes me think and feel for these characters, I'm truly just curious why they couldn't have been together or had some semblance or prospect of happiness. Alienor was one of my favorite characters, and her story arc was not so sad as Claude's, which I am glad for, but it's sad that one woman got what she wanted and the other did not. I realize this would be typical of women of their time, though, for Alienor was not a noblewoman and could have better luck in her choice of husband. I could go on and on about this book! It's so deep, provocative and more.

The wonderful new novel from the much loved author of Girl with a Pearl Earring and Falling Angels. The Lady and the Unicorn tapestries are a set of six medieval tapestries. Beautiful, intricate and expertly made, they are also mysterious in their origin and meaning. Tapestries give an appearance of order and continuity, as if designed and made by one person, belying the complicated process required to create them. Weavers, patrons, designers, artists, merchants and apprentices were involved in their making, and behind them were the wives, daughters and servants who exercised influences over their men. Like the many strands of wool and silk woven together into one cloth, so these people came together in a complex dance to create the whole picture. tapestries to hang in his chateau. Nicolas, his chosen designer, meets le Viste's wife Genevieve and his daughter Claude, both of whom take a keen interest in the tapestries. From Paris, Nicolas moves to a weaver's workshop in Brussels. The creation of the tapestries brings together people who would not otherwise meet -- their lives become entangled, and so do their desires. As they fall in love, are shunned, take revenge, find unrequited love, turn to the church or to pagan ideals, the tapestries become to each an ideal vision of life -- yet all discover that they are unable to make this ideal world their own.

Sarah Escorsa

A disappointing follow-up to the fantastic "Girl With a Pearl Earring"... I love the idea behind the book but the writing is terrible and the story very slow-paced.

Sheila Goicea

I don't know how I feel about this book. 

A part of me wants to like it, and the (very) scandalous story behind the meaning and depictions of the tapestries. The other...wants to just flush it down the toilet where Nicolas des Innocents belongs. 

Considering, this rendition actually could have happened. Maybe that's why I want to like it. The 1400s were times when having relations outside of wedlock was "NO NO NO. You don't do that because it ruins everything for everyone." Men are commonly depicted as being able to get away with anything. Here, Nicholas does just that. 

However, the book was just...eww. 

More importantly, and the flip-side that doesn't like it, is that it was confusing. At times I felt lost because of the many stories and voices happening within this overlying plot. I think it if was narrowed down, it'd be more easily followed.

I love art history, and I am intrigued by The Lady and the Unicorn tapestries, but this story just didn't hit the mark.

This review can also be seen on my blog: She's Going Book Crazy

Meredith Rose

I feel pretty conflicted by this book. I liked some aspects, like reading from the perspective of more than one character, but there was also a lot I didn’t like.

For example, weaving was a much less compelling art form to read about than painting and embroidery (the subjects of the last two Chevalier books I read). Because weaving is a less common art form, I found it harder to understand the process she was describing. And since the art is the main reason I read Chevalier’s books, I was sad that it didn’t shine as much in this novel as her others.

Also, the whole point of her books is to create compelling and believable backstories to famous pieces of art. But for me, this one felt contrived. I think it felt this way because there is so much symbolism in The Lady and Unicorn tapestries that she was trying to weave (pun intended) into the story. It just felt forced to me. 

It wasn’t all bad though. Reading from the perspective of multiple characters (my favorite type of narrative) made it easier to care about and bond with characters than her other works. I suppose this did a little to make up for the fact that the backstory to the art was lacking for me!

Ratri Adityarani

Pagi penggemar buku, nama pengarang Tracy Chevalier tentunya sudah bukan nama yang asing lagi. Pengarang kelahiran Washington, DC tahun 1962 ini pernah melejitkan buku Girl With a Pearl Earring yang menjadi best seller di berbagai negara di dunia. Karya-karyanya dikenal dengan tema karya seni yang menyimpan berbagai cerita sehingga para penggemar bukunya dapat menikmati kisah-kisah menarik dan karya seni yang ditonjolkannya.

Di dalam buku The Lady and the Unicorn, Tracy Chevalier mengetengahkan tema mengenai tenunan karpet. Pada abad pertengahan di Eropa, karpet tenunan buatan tangan sangat mahal dan menjadi simbol kemakmuran di kalangan masyarakat. para bangsawan yang memiliki karpet tenunan buatan tangan akan memiliki prestis yang lebih, terutama bila tenunan itu dibuat oleh seniman terkenal. Mengambil setting di Prancis, pada saat itu Nicolas des Innocents adalah seorang seniman yang terkenal tampan dan banyak menggoda para wanita. Ia diundang oleh keluarga bangsawan Jean Le Viste di Paris untuk membuat tenunan bergambar medan pertempuran di rumahnya. Namun Geneviève, istri Jean sendiri mencoba membujuk Nicolas untuk membuat tema lukisan tenunan yang lebih lembut, sehingga Nicolas mengusulkan serangkaian tenunan bergambar wanita yang menjinakkan unicorn. Rangkaian tenunan itu terdiri dari lima lukisan yang masing-masing mewakili indra manusia, direpresentasikan oleh lima wanita yang berbeda. Nicolas menggunakan Geneviève dan putri Jean, Claude, sebagai model dari lukisan tenunan itu, dan tiga wanita lain di kehidupannya yang masing-masing memberikan kisah dan kesan tersendiri dalam kehidupan seniman ini.

Alur cerita yang mengalir lancar dan gaya bahasa yang lugas membuat karya-karya Tracy Chevalier sangat menarik untuk diikuti hingga selesai, tak terkecuali karya The Lady and the Unicorn ini. Pembaca akan dibuat penasaran dengan keindahan lukisan-lukisan Nicolas yang terpampang pada tenunan Brussels yang dibuatnya, karena sang penulis memberikan intrik dan konflik di masing-masih babnya.
Untuk merepresentasikan sebuah karya seni, buku The Lady and the Unicorn ini menjadi sebuah mahakarya tersendiri yang menceritakan keanggunan tenunan Brussels, dan sebuah novel yang tak kalah istimewanya. 

-chibs-

elena vaamonde 

Gigi V

Martha F.

Denaiir

Caitlin Faupel

melina christidou 

A tour de force of history and imagination, The Lady and the Unicorn is Tracy Chevalier’s answer to the mystery behind one of the art world’s great masterpieces—a set of bewitching medieval tapestries that hangs today in the Cluny Museum in Paris. They appear to portray the seduction of a unicorn, but the story behind their making is unknown—until now. Paris, 1490. A shrewd French nobleman commissions six lavish tapestries celebrating his rising status at Court. He hires the charismatic, arrogant, sublimely talented Nicolas des Innocents to design them. Nicolas creates havoc among the women in the house—mother and daughter, servant, and lady-in-waiting—before taking his designs north to the Brussels workshop where the tapestries are to be woven. There, master weaver Georges de la Chapelle risks everything he has to finish the tapestries—his finest, most intricate work—on time for his exacting French client. The results change all their lives—lives that have been captured in the tapestries, for those who know where to look. In The Lady and the Unicorn, Tracy Chevalier weaves fact and fiction into a beautiful, timeless, and intriguing literary tapestry—an extraordinary story exquisitely told.

A Novel

Sian Wadey

Bunnhi

‘Enormously enjoyable’ Evening Standard ‘Charming’ The Times

Kathy Rodger 

Robin M Cabana

Bee 

Liz Carpenter

Rebecka S.

Erika

The Lady and the Unicorn tapestries hang in the Cluny Museum in Paris. In each, an elegant lady and a unicorn stand or sit on an island of grass surrounded by a rich background of animals and flowers. Little is known about them except that they were woven toward the end of the fifteenth century and bear the coat of arms of a wealthy family from Lyons. Chevalier weaves a story about the tapestries.

The Lady and the Unicorn

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