The Creation of Eve

Written by Lynn Cullen

Narrated by Virginia Leishman

From acclaimed historical novelist Lynn Cullen comes a lush and compelling tale of intrigue and longing, set in the 16th-century Spanish court. After a scandal ends her apprenticeship with Michelangelo in 1559, artist Sofonisba Anguissola accepts an invitation from King Felipe II to become lady-in-waiting and painting teacher to his teenage bride Elisabeth. And though Sofi's developing affair may be risky, Elisabeth's dalliance with the king's brother Don Juan could be deadly.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: May 14, 2010
• ISBN: 9781449808679

Lynn Cullen

Lynn Cullen camped in Harriman State Park when visiting New York City as a thirteen-year-old. Like Harris, she braced herself for embarrassment: "I felt like a neon sign was flashing over our ancient canvas car carrier: Tourists! Tourists!" Lynn Cullen grew up in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Reviews for The Creation of Eve

[vivienner_3 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Lynn Cullen has merged fact and fiction to create an articulate story that for the most part takes place in the Spanish court during the reign of Felipe II (Philip) and his marriage to Elisabeth of Valois, daughter of Catherine de’ Medici and Henri II of France.Sofonisba Anguissola was the first female artist to achieve prominence in the Italian Renaissance. In the early years of her artistic career she was a student of Michaelangelo. In 1559 she was invited to the Spanish court to teach the new teenage queen to paint and to attend her as a lady-in-waiting. Because she was not an official portrait painter, most of the paintings done at this time were unsigned, some of which have only recently been authenticated.This book is presented as entries from her notebook. Each chapter begins with interesting snippets of information relating to events, customs and conventions of the day. The story concentrates on the lives of Elisabeth and the Spanish royal family with Sofonisba as narrator. Many of the details are true and this makes the book very absorbing. Cullen describes a fictional love between Elisabeth and her husband's illegitimate half-brother Don Juan. This differs from other historians who have imagined a liaison with Philip's son Don Carlos, to whom she was originally promised. The author added a chapter of notes detailing some of the reality and how her research inspired the story. Although Felipe is regarded as an authoritarian ruler, he was generous and considerate of Sofonisba. After the young queen's death he found a husband for the thirty-eight-year-old Sofonisba and paid her a generous income until his death in 1598.This book was very enjoyable as well as enlightening. It sparked my interest in Sofonisba and encouraged me to read more about her and the Spanish and French royal families. I can recommend it to anyone interested in the period or in art history, especially as it relates to women.

[mpmills · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The Creation of Eve tells the story of Sofonisba Anguissola, a little-known female artist of the Renaissance, who once studied under Michelangelo. In 1560, Sofonisba joined the court of King Felipe of Spain to be a companion and art instructor to his young queen, Elisabeth. I found the Spanish court life fascinating, and I liked that the author portrayed Sofonisba as intelligent and strong, yet kept her personality true to the 16th century. I enjoyed reading this book.

[noveleagle · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The Creation of Eve by Lynn Cullen ISBN: 978-0-399-15510-6This meticulously researched novel transports the reader into the almost mythical world of Don Juan. Although told in first person, Cullen's protagonist remains a mystery throughout. In this fictionalized autobiography, Sofonisba Anguissola gives us abundant knowledge of the people who surround her while revealing very little about herself.The Creation of Eve was for me a good read but I think I would have preferred it be written in third person singular as told by Sofonisba's personal servant.

[cfk_3 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Sofonisba was a young, female Italian painter who was briefly tutored under Michelangelo. She became 'the first renowned female artist of the Renaissance,' for early portraits of her family and those of nearby city states in Italy, and was recognized by Michelangelo for her talent. In more recent times, she has been identified as the artist of more important portraits which were originally attributed to other artists because she was not allowed to sign them.She was hired by King Phillip II to teach his young French bride, Elisabeth, how to paint and to serve as one of her ladies. During this time, though given a relatively secure position, she had little time for painting and could not sign her name anyway because her position with the Queen superseded that of painter.The late 16th Century was a highly volatile time not only in England where Queen Elizabeth I had a precarious hold on her throne, doing battle with various factions within her realm, the Pope and the European kings, but in Spain as well. King Phillip's control of the Netherlands and factions within his own lands, plus the high cost of maintaining armies and navies in the field were near ruinous. Also, his sole male heir was clearly unbalanced and finally had to be locked away.

[thetometraveller · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Lynn Cullen's novel, The Creation of Eve, tells the story of Sofonisba Anguissola, the first gifted female painter of the Renaissance. She studied with Michelangelo and her work was noted in her own time in The Lives of the Artists by Giorgio Vasari, but she has largely been forgotten by the modern world.Early in her life, Sofi displayed a talent for drawing. Her father, a printer and bookseller, defied convention and encouraged her to develop her gift. Painting, at the time, was a pastime for men, like most other activities. So his support was crucial for her success. She was invited by renowned artist Michelangelo to study with him after he saw one of her sketches. While in Rome, she meets Tiberio Calcogni, another student of Michelangelo's. She falls in love with him but their single assignation is discovered. She flees for her home in Cremona, fearing the consequences.She hopes to hear an offer of marriage from Tiberio, but none is made. In order to save her own reputation and that of her family, Sofi accepts a position as lady-in-waiting to King Philip of Spain's third wife, Elisabeth of Valois. Doing so requires her to give up her dream of becoming a master painter. (Employees of the king are not allowed to sign their work. Sofi's portraits done after her arrival in Spain are unsigned, resulting in confusion and mis-attribution of her work to contemporary male artists.)King Philip had been married twice before (most notably to Mary Tudor of England) and widowed twice. His ambition to marry Elizabeth I of England after the death of her sister has come to nothing. So, he is in his early thirties when he marries Elisabeth of Valois, daughter of Catherine de Medici of France. She is just fourteen years old.Sofi grows to love the young, impetuous Queen. But she is increasingly troubled by Elisabeth's developing interest in the King's half brother, Don Juan. The relationship between the King and Queen is often strained. He is saddled with the enormous task of running an empire that spreads over most of Europe. He does not have the youth or glamour of Don Juan and can't take the time to try to truly win the heart of his wife. The result is a love triangle that can never result in a happy ending. Sofi can only be there for the Queen and do her best to lessen the friction that exists between the three.When Sofi eventually hears the fate of Michelangelo and her beloved Tiberio, she is devastated. But she cannot afford to show her pain and grief, the inquisition is in full swing. And though she is only a lady-in-waiting, she has developed enemies. She will have to tread carefully to emerge successfully from the embroiled court of Philip II. This is historical fiction at its best! Fascinating real life characters with life breathed into them by a talented writer with a gift for imagining the possibilities so well that the story feels not only possible, but probable. I loved Sofi and her story and appreciated a look at Philip of Spain that was not through the eyes of any of the Tudors. A lovely book, vividly imagined, full of rich history. I loved it and highly recommend it!

[zibilee_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

After being caught in a compromising situation while studying with the great Michelangelo, Sofonisba Anguissola, a premiere painter of her time, decides to leave her home in Cremona, Italy to become the painting instructor and lady-in-waiting to the new Queen, Elisabeth de Valois. Arriving at court, Sofonisba meets the young and inexperienced queen as she first arrives at the palace, never expecting that Elisabeth will become her most cherished friend. Though the relationship between the king and queen is at first cool, the king soon becomes greatly enchanted by the young queen and begins to excessively dote on her and endlessly attempts to produce an heir with her. The queen, full of spirit and life, soon turns her attention elsewhere and finds that she has much in common with the three new young men in court: the king's son Don Carlos, his nephew Don Alessandro, and his illegitimate half brother Don Juan. The naïve Elisabeth quickly becomes entangled in a dangerous love triangle with both the king and Don Juan, a situation that causes no end of worry to Sofonisba. As the king and Don Juan grow ever more enamored of the young queen, the king becomes increasingly jealous and demanding of his wife's attention, a situation that puts Don Juan at great risk. Filled with political, religious and romantic intrigue, The Creation of Eve documents the trials of a powerful woman in love with two men and the havoc it wreaks upon her life as well as Sofonisba's.The story in this book focuses on two very different women. The first, Sofonisba, is greatly bereaved by her decision to leave her family after a rash act threatens to ruin her reputation. Though she is very successful in her own right, her love for another of Michelangelo's students puts her at a disadvantage and rather than face the threat of scandal, she resigns herself to accept a position at court. As Sofonsiba plots a course to change her future, she realizes that that she is leaving the passion of her youth behind and struggles through her feelings of despair even as she begins her relationship as the queen's confidante. The queen, on the other hand, is young and fresh and hopes that her allure will be all that is needed to keep her husband from straying from her bedside. She is the kind of woman who is not savvy in her intrigues and is unable to keep from casting about in her desire for male attention. Sofonisba and the queen, though both kind and generous women, are very different. While the queen is unscrupulous and flighty, Sofonisba is more secretive and wary of all around her. The juxtaposition between the two woman gave this story an uncommon amount of depth, and I found it very interesting that despite the women's great differences, they had a lot in common as well.While the queen professed to love the king, it was with great alarm and uncertainty that I read about her relations with the other men at court. The queen, while professing to love one man, flirted shamelessly with another and lusted after yet a third! There were points that she verbally dallied with the king's son Don Carlos, but I suspect this was done in order to keep her real passion for Don Juan hidden. The king seemed to be led around by the nose by the queen, and I believe that is why it took so long for him to discover his wife's passion for his half-brother. It was a wicked game she played, one that kept everyone off balance, with no one but Sofi able to realize exactly what she was doing. I don't think that her escapades were done maliciously; rather I think the queen was just very juvenile in her desire to be loved by all those surrounding her, sometimes to the great danger of others. Don Juan's attachment to the queen was, I think, sincere, but in the game the queen played, she put him in serious danger, making me feel at once sorry for her and exasperated with her. She was at times a bit of a loose cannon, with her affections ranging far and wide.The king was actually one of my favorite characters in this tale. He was an extremely kind and patient man and seemed to love the queen beyond all measure. When he discovered his wife's feelings for his brother, I felt that he did not act rashly or in anger, choosing instead to remain calm and handle his adversity with honor. Later sections of the book had me wondering what his true motives were towards his wife, and I think the author used this strategy of doubt to the height of its perfection. The reader is left wondering just what the king had done or not done, and forcing a speculation on him that may or may not be valid. It was clear to me that he loved his wife but other aspects of his character were more concealed. Did he or did he not engage in relations with a mistress? Did he attempt to stop his wife's dalliances at any cost? It's never clear what the king was capable of, for he only showed what he wanted to be seen. A very shrewd man he was, of that I am certain. There were many sides to his character and he remained malleable throughout the narrative.Sofonisba's story was definitely the most touching of all the narrative threads in this book. Her fear and reproach for herself was hard to bear witness to. Though she struggled to remain strong, she was constantly filled with doubt and a suspicion that she could not shake. I feel that the author excelled at her creation, and witnessing her walk through her life with so much regret was like watching a woman live in slow motion. Unfortunately the things she left behind were never to be regained, a fact that saddened and sobered me, and although she gave so much care and attention to the queen, she was not able to do the same for herself. Hers was a story steeped in pain and heartache.This was an excellent story told with a great lushness of language and brilliant intimacy. There was a great gravity to all the events that unfolded in the tale and a natural rhythm to the narrative. I think that those who enjoy historical fiction would greatly love this book, as would those who love stories that are filled with unexpected intrigue. I did so much enjoy this book and am excited to see more by this author. A great tale to get swept away with, highly recommended!

[capfox · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I've been enjoying reading historical fiction more over the past couple of years, and this one, The Creation of Eve, would seem to have a lot of good ingredients going for it. An interesting, but relatively unknown, true character to build the plot around? Check - Sofonisba Anguissola, the first renowned woman painter of the Renaissance, who spent time with Michelangelo, spent time in the Spanish royal court as a lady in waiting, and later served as a personal influence on Rubens.How about a setting which readers may generally not be familiar with, and if they are, they probably have some misconceptions? The Spanish court under Felipe II serves as a good candidate. Cullen even notes that many people view Felipe as a "half-mad despot" now, but the book presents a calmer view of life there. The King is reasonable, works hard on paperwork, looks for practical solutions, and I'd say there's significant ambiguity in the book suggesting he's quite peaceful, all around. The rest of the court members - the queen, Don Carlos, Don Juan, etc., they're real, and I'd never heard of any of them, which may be a sign that my interests lay more in other parts of the world than Spain, but I don't remember them coming up, and they're an interesting crew.Indeed, the characters are quite well drawn, I think, and the picture of life in the castle, and particularly of the life of Sofonisba, whose vantage the story is told from, comes across clearly and well. It's repetitive sometimes, but then, life there probably was repetitive, and having some repetition is fine where it advances the story, and to solidify the sense of place. The ongoing squabbles between the French and Spanish ladies, for instance, keeps a cultural tension there where it would be hard to see otherwise.The plot, though, has some pacing problems - one gets the feeling Cullen didn't want to take the chance that readers might forget something relevant, and thus resolves on multiple occasions pieces of information that would better have been held for later - and while I do like the characters, often the interactions of the characters leave me confused. I will accept this might be a personal failing, but I didn't see the romantic connections particularly clearly at all until well past I feel like I was supposed to. I feel like it was meant to be read from glances and behavior, but it was too opaque for me, and as such connections are a large part of the book, I had a hard time getting as into it as I should have been.All in all, this was an interesting book, but not as strong as I feel it could have been. There are very strong points, though, particularly in the characterisation of the individual historical people, so if you're interested in the time period, give it a shot.

[nancnn2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The first half of this novel I mostly enjoyed. But as the book went on, I felt that many points of the story were overly drawn out. The book ends rather abruptly, and at an odd place in the overall scheme of the narrative.At the end of the book there is an "Author's Note" which picks up where the fictionalized account ends, briefly summarizing the rest of Sofonisba Anguissola's life. I found this information fascinating! And it left me with a puzzling question: why did the author choose to fictionalize such a limited glimpse of such an incredibly rich life? I felt almost short-changed.

[xaverie_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

An interesting, nuanced read, Lynn Cullen's daring novel "The Creation of Eve" takes on an exciting period of talented but lesser known painter Sofonisba Anguissola's life. A female apprentice to Michelangelo when there were very, very few female painters, a personal reason causes Sofonisba to take a position as a lady in waiting and personal painting teacher to the barely teenaged new Queen of Spain, Elisabeth of Valois.With the background of the Spanish Inquisition, the reader is transported through Sofonisba's sporadic diary entries into the nuances of the queen's life.The novel starts slowly, with Sofonisba coming off as far too focused on a single sexual indiscretion that, while a shameful secret to her, is unknown to anyone else. The diary format of the novel was at first a detraction for me, as I find first person narrative to be self-indulgent and far too limited but Cullen manages to create in Sofonisba a perfect observer, shrewdly observing the actions of the Spanish royal family while dealing with matters of her own heart.The more fantasical elements of the story like Don Carlos descent into madness are the most historically accurate and Cullen has done a superb job of seamlessly weaving fiction and reality together to create a wonderful book. "The Creation of Eve" is well worth the time to pick up as it was thoroughly enjoyable.

[litfan_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This novel was not quite what I had expected based on the back cover. It’s described as the story of Sofonisba Anguissola, a significant female artist from Italy during the Renaissance. Sofonisba falls for another artist, Tiberio while training with Michelangelo, but they are kept apart by circumstance. While coping with the aftermath of her attachment to Tiberio, Sofonisba is asked to become part of the Spanish court. Her task is to teach the new, 14 year old Spanish Queen to draw. The plot shifts dramatically once Sofonisba enters the court. The focus of the novel shifts to the Queen’s relationship with King Felipe, and ultimately to a love triangle between the King, the Queen and the King’s illegitimate brother Don Juan. I kept expecting the novel to resume focus on Sofonisba’s life at some point, but it never quite fully returned to her. The Queen quite nearly became the main character, and to be honest, I often found her to be more interesting than Sofonisba. Sofonisba’s character never felt quite developed, and the brief times when her focus shifted from the Queen’s world back to herself, it felt distracting and even slightly annoying. It was as if the author couldn’t quite decide at times where the real story was. But despite all that, I gave it four stars because it was utterly absorbing and I could not put it down. The writing was so precise that I felt I was right there, and it painted a vivid portrait of life in the Spanish court. The novel is also quite well-researched in terms of historical detail. In the author’s note, the author takes the time to let the reader know which pieces of the story were historically accurate, and those with which she had taken artistic license. That was helpful as I sometimes finish historical novels unsure if I’ve gotten accurate history—it was nice to have those questions cleared up by the author of this novel. So, overall, it wasn’t what I expected, but it turned out to be a good, worthwhile read.

[christinestefanitsis · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

As an early reviewer, I received 'The Creation of Eve' a historical novel by Lynn Cullen, based on the true but little-known story of Sofonisba Anguissola, the first renowned female artist of the Renaissance. Sofonisba studied under Michelangelo and was asked by the King of Spain (Felipe) to become part of the Queen's (Elisabeth) court. Through Sofi's eyes (and Lynn's impeccable writing) we are transported to the Spanish court with all its intrigue, multi-layered relationships and rules. Another key theme of the novel is the treatment and place of women during this time period. Through Sofi's eyes, we are able to gain access to the interior life of the third wife of Felipe: the young, Elisabeth. At fourteen years old, she is expected to satisfy the King and produce an heir, all as part of deal for peace between France and Spain. The young Queen Elisabeth wants desperately to please her mother (Catherine de Medici) and the women of the Spanish court, but her youth, naïveté and impulsive nature set her on a collision course with the King. Lynn Cullen's novel is well researched and written. She has an appreciation and understanding of painters and painting techniques. I could picture many of the scenes described as vignettes in an exhibition. Sofi is the perfect portrait artist, she remains in the background, allowing her main subject, the Queen, and court life, to come into clear focus. If you enjoy historical fiction and want to learn more about the Spanish Court during this time period, I highly recommend The Creation of Eve.

[supereen · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Loved this book. Was disappointed when it was over. I enjoy historical fiction based on true data. This book made me want to go out and buy a painting by Sofonisba Anguissola!

[fyrefly98 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Summary: The Creation of Eve tells the story of Sofonisba Anguissola, one of Michelangelo's students, and the first famous female artist of the Renaissance. After losing her heart - and her virginity - to another of Michelangelo's students, Sofi is summoned to the Spanish court, where she is to teach King Felipe II's young French queen how to draw. She quickly become the Queen's favorite lady-in-waiting, but that position is not all it's cracked up to be; not only does her own painting take a back seat to the demands of royalty, but Sofi is also unprepared for the intrigues of court life - especially a court in which the young Queen may be developing feelings for the King's illegitimate half-brother... a crime that carries the penalty of death.Review: The basic themes of The Creation of Eve - of a royal court full of intrigue, of a young woman forced into a political marriage, of the duty to king and country conflicting with the desires of the heart - are pretty standard fare in historical fiction. However, Lynn Cullen manages to take in these tropes and turn out a compelling story, and one that distinguishes itself from the pack via the addition of Sofonisba Anguissola as its narrator. One of the main reasons that I read historical fiction is to learn about people and events and places that I didn't know about before, and on that front, The Creation of Eve was wildly successful. Cullen brings the court of of Felipe II to life with a deft touch and vivid details, and its main inhabitants sound and feel like real people rather than stock characters. (It was also a refreshing change from my normal reading to come across a "royal intrigue and scandal" book that wasn't about the British monarchy.)In The Creation of Eve, Cullen also introduced me to an artist - and a period of history - that had heretofore been missing from my (admittedly spotty) knowledge of art history. Sofi's a very interesting narrator, and Cullen never wanders from her voice or her perspective. I was a little disappointed that there wasn't more about the art - from reading the back cover, I was expecting the story to focus more on "Sofi the artist", but the novel turned out to primarily be "Sofi the lady-in-waiting," with the royal love triangle taking center stage. However, I guess I can't complain too much, since (as Cullen explains in her excellent author's note) the shift from artist to lady-in-waiting happened in real life as well, so it's really history and not the historical fiction that wasn't living up to expectations. Indeed, Cullen takes very few liberties with the historical record, which results in a book that is not only an enjoyable read, but actually an interesting and memorable history lesson as well. 4 out of 5 stars.Recommendation: Historical fiction fans will enjoy this one for sure, particularly those who like art history or Spain as well.

[squeex_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book left me breathless. If you read my blog very often, you know that I don't typically 'do' historical fiction. It's not to say that I don't like it, it's just that the historical fiction books don't grab my attention as quickly as a mystery or paranormal books so the wandering finger as I trace out the titles choosing my next read will skim right on over the big 600 page tomes that are the norm for HF. I won this from LibraryThing Early Reviewer, my first book win from them, from the January choices. I thought the premise looked very interesting and I was glad to win the book and to be proved correct. It's a fantastic story based on a true occurrence. I think the Renaissance period of art history is my favorite. Sofonisba Anguissola was an artist who studied with Michelangelo for a time, but a perceived scandal and romance with a fellow artist sent her running home and then to the Spanish court to teach the new Queen of Spain how to paint and draw. It was mostly as a diversion due to her youth as the King was busy ruling half of the world and had no time for his young bride from France. Sofi becomes the Queen's best friend in Court which had its positive bend and negative. She was at the Queen's beck and call which kept Sofi busy and her heart and mind occupied from dwelling too much on her love, Tiberio. It also kept her too busy to study her other love, painting. She was a woman, so couldn't be thought of as a serious artist. Her paintings and portraits mostly went unsigned or signed by other (male) artists. The kicker was the constant intrigue of the Spanish court. All of the backstabbing and catfighting, though couched in kid gloves, was never-ending. I'd have been exhausted each day and someone would have been bitch-slapped. I'd not have lasted long back in the day of the royal Courts I would imagine.Lynn Cullen's written imagery was spectacular and put me right in the time and place of sixteenth-century Spain. My face squinched each time the condesa de Uruena stuck her pomander filled with civet to her nose. I could see the scenery of the Spanish countryside and hear the barking dogs or the clatter of the banquet hall. Five Renaissance diamonds.....

[loreleilouise · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Very good book. Interesting material with a lot of information which I never knew about King Philip. Also information about Sofonisba and Michaelangelo.

[scribe77_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The Creation of Eve by Lynn Cullen is an enjoyable book and a reasonably engaging historic novel with romantic undertones. The author has created a panoramic world, with deft historic details and colourful characters. She recreates her historic setting admirably.The novel tells the story of Sofonisba Anguissola, a female artist in the time of the Renaissance. The book begins as she is studying under the tutelage of Michelangelo and falling in love with Tiberio. That love affair does not go well, and she finds herself in the court of the Spanish Court as painting instructor to the new Queen, swallowed by the complexities of royal life. The author does know her history and writes of a thriving 16th century world, detailed and fully realised. Where the book stumbles is in the deeper portrayal of emotion. For a novel laced with themes of love and passion, I found the style curiously detached, even superficial, at times. I often found it difficult to connect to certain characters and wondered at the validity of their actions. I also found modern sensibilities were creeping in around the edges.As an amateur painter, I’m somewhat familiar with the creation of art, so I enjoyed the historic art references in the book, but I found Sofonisba's involvement with her painting lacking in expressive connection; it was all technique and little enthusiasm. The Creation of Eve could have benefitted from a deeper tone and a richer vibrancy; it is elegant history sprinkled with some muted, underlying sentiments. Still, the book is agreeable to read and the character of Sofonisba is interesting enough to keep you reading. It is a reasonably appealing, frothy novel.

[dianemb_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I used to read historical fiction a lot and this book reflects the reason why. It portrays the story of the only woman who studied under Michelangelo, Sofonisba Anguissola. Little did she know the trouble that association would cause her. The story tells of her time as a lady-in-waiting to the young Queen Elisabeth of Spain. A very entertaining read.

[mountie9_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Good Stuff * Historically accurate and very rich in detail * Intriguing characters * Very well researched and the author obviously has a passion for these historical characters and their time period * Interesting notes at the beginning of each chapter * wonderful understanding and description of a woman's place in this era of history * Lots of court intrigue * The Author's note at the end of the bookNot So Good Stuff * Storyline dragged and was a little dry at times * Not very passionate and fiery as you are lead to believe by the books description * Story focuses far too much on the royals and not enough time actually on Sofonisba * Some of the theatrics of the queen and the kings brother are repetitive and irritatingWhat I Learned * Lots of fascinating little historical facts about the late 1500's in Spain and France * It really sucked to be a women during this period of time! * Some interesting facts about Michelangelo * about syphilisFavorite Quotes/PassagesItem: In Madrid, a woman whose only crime was to look especially beautiful dressed in her gown for Mass, was gouged in the cheeks by her husband, his weapon being his fingernails. Her husband was found not guilty of any wrongdoing. She bears the scars on her face to this day.Not long after our return to the palace, the King, finding me painting on the Queen’s portrait, stopped to study my work. Alone and filled with remorse and shame that his presence now evokes in me, I painted in silence, the hushed dab of my bush against canvas mingling with the roar of the river outside. I heard his pained swallow behind me. “You have captured her.Who Should Read * Art/History Lovers * Lovers of richly detailed historical fiction

[letter4no1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The Creation of Eve centers around a real but little know artist of the Renaissance, Sofonisba Anguissola. The story follows her from being a student to Michaelangelo to being the favorite lady in the Spanish Court of Felipe II.For all of you Phillipa Gregory fans out there, I highly recommend this novel (to be released March 26). It combines strong characters, interesting history and a sense of melancholy in every page of Sofi's diary. Cullen creates great contrast between Sofi and the typical ladies serving the Queen. The Queen herself is what you would expect a year old girl to be, but her learning process is so interesting to follow as she has to fight to keep her head above water in so many situations.If you are a fan of Historical Fiction this will probably be right up your ally.

[pontori2 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This book had plenty of elements that I should have liked - a Renaissance setting, a female painter in a time when it was a rarity, the intrigues of a royal court. Instead, I found myself more and more frustrated with this book.I never really warmed up to the character of Sofonisba. In the beginning when she muses on the lot of women made her just a touch too self-aware and too 20th century for me. And then for a supposedly clever woman she just doesn't act very intelligently.Overall the plot arc of this novel disappointed me. Sofi is always miserable and ends miserable. The Queen is miserable. The King is miserable. Ugh. It was frustrating because there wasn't much of a story per se. In retrospect I think it's because the protagonist of this novel never acts, she always reacts. Everyone else makes the choices and propels her and that's just frustrating.The author gives an afterword about the real Sofi's life and that sounds so much more interesting that what we actually got.EDIT: I'm surprised to see so many people who really liked the plot of this book. Perhaps I was expecting too much since it was compared to "The Other Boleyn Girl." Maybe I'm "over" my historical fiction phase. I just respectfully disagree with the other reviewers:)

[jmccarro · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Sofonisba Anguissola (1532-1625) was the first prominent female painter of the Renaissance. She studied, informally, with Michelangelo, and became something of a role model for female art students. At the age of about 27 she joined the Spanish court as a court painter and lady in waiting to Philip II's third wife, the queen Elisabeth of Valois, daughter of Catherine de'Medici. She remained in the Spanish court (even after the death of Elisabeth) until 1578, during which time she took a husband, who died in 1579. In 1580 she married again. Anguissola died a highly respected artist in 1625 at the age of 93.The Creation of Eve is a fictional account of part of the life of Sofonisba Anguissola concentrating, in the main, on her time at the Spanish court. Despite being a work of fiction, there is considerable depth in the historical detail woven throughout the story, and appears to have been carefully researched. Many of the events described in the novel are known to have been factual.The book was a very enjoyable and easy read. The plot is not overly complex, but author has a lucid, even style with a sense of subtlety. Again, the careful historical research behind the novel was much appreciated. I would warmly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction, or who has an interest in the Renaissance or art historyDisclaimer: I received a free copy of the book for review.

[lahochstetler · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A fictionalized account of the life of Renaissance painter Sofinisba Anguissola, this book chronicles the time Anguissola spent as a lady-in-waiting to Elisabeth de Valois, queen of Spain. At the Spanish court Sofi encounters an entirely different world. Learning to navigate court culture while dreaming about the relationship she left behind in Rome envelop Sofi's time. She becomes one of the queen's favorites, a position that offers little but complexity and danger. Cullen's historical presentation is believable, though I found the beginning of the book to be somewhat slow-going. In part, this is because the first portion of the book, set in Italy, has little bearing on the major thrust of the plot. I found the court setting of the book somewhat difficult to engage. I've read little of the voluminous historical fiction on the kings and queens of Europe, so I suspect that for others more deeply read in the genre, this will not be an issue. This is more my issue than Cullen's, I simply don't find the court setting inherently interesting. My preferences aside, I did get deeper into the story. Cullen's writing is good, though I did find the ending, and the consequences of one final dramatic action, to be wholly unbelievable.

[justabookreader · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

In Rome 1559, Sofonisba Anguissola is training to be a painter. Under the tutelage of Michelangelo, she begins to stretch her talent to heights unheard of for a woman at the time. Her father places a lot of faith in her abilities and provides her with the best teachers, but her status as a woman means she cannot study, sketch, or paint the naked body. This leaves her with little understanding of the human form itself and she is told it adds an inhibited quality to her work that she struggles to overcome.During her time in Rome, she meets and falls in love with another student of Michelangelo’s, Tiberio Calcagni. Their brief affair causes her shame and she leaves the city hoping that what happened between her and Tiberio will not be found out by her father who worked so hard to make sure she would have the chance to learn her craft.Unaware of what will happen between her and Tiberio as there is no forthcoming proposal of marriage, she takes a position as a lady in waiting to Elisabeth of Valois, the young bride of Felipe II, the King of Spain. She is to teach the young Queen how to draw and paint. Unfortunately, her sad love life, or lack there of, weighs heavily on her. The love trials of the young Queen breaks Sofi’s heart while all this time she wonders silently about Tiberio. Sofi's heart suffers while she is at court and the growing attraction she sees between the Queen and the King’s brother, Don Juan, brings her even more heartbreak. Her choices are limited and she struggles with her heart, who she is, and what she must do for the Queen.Very little action takes place in this novel but the affairs of the heart take center stage and the entire time you're aware that the story is being told by an artist. The descriptions, colors, and experiences are filtered through an eye that is always looking for shape, texture, and depth. Told through diary entries, each chapter begins with a painting hint or fact. I loved that the story was told through Sofi's point of view as it allowed you to get close to the characters. Sofi’s descriptions of the court, the Queen’s dresses, the other ladies in waiting, and the palaces are wonderful and it's as if you're watching and hearing the conversations first hand.Oddly enough this is a book about a painter but very little painting takes place. Somehow that’s a good thing as you come to know the artist behind the easel instead and it’s a good story. For anyone who loves historical fiction, this is a great read. You finish the last page wanting to know more about everyone in the story.

[momweaver · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book is a worthy addition to the library of anyone interested in historical fiction set during the Spanish Inquisition. Sofonisba Anguissola lets us peek into the lives of the Spanish Royal Court, and Michelangelo whom she has studied with. Parts of the book were a little slow, but it was definitely worth the effort.

[kasthu_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Sofonisba Anguissola was one of the foremost female artists of the Renaissance. Born in a small town in Italy, she studied in Rome under Michelangelo, and became a lady in waiting and art teacher to Elizabeth of Valois who became Queen of Spain when she married King Filipe. While there, Sofonisba witnesses the budding relationship between Elizabeth and the King’s young half brother, Don Juan.If you’re looking for a story that’s solely about Sofonisba you might be a bit disappointed. She’s more of a witness to what’s going on around her, rather an active participant in the story. Although Sofinisba led an interesting life herself, it’s Elizabeth, Felipe, and the Spanish court that take the stage here, and it’s an excellent story, well told. Like another reader here, I was very surprised by, and interested in, the author’s treatment of Felipe. I guess I, too, am too use to England-based novels set during this time period, which depict him as a cruel monster. Elizabeth is rather silly, naïve, and pathetic in the way that she behaves, but that doesn’t stop the reader from ultimately feeling sympathetic towards her. In the end, the reader realizes that Sofi and Elizabeth are very similar; they’re both trapped in positions they didn’t choose to be in, unable to make their own decisions about their lives.I also loved the heavy amount of historical details that are in this book. The author obviously did a lot of research to get her story to feel authentic, and her hard work has paid off here. Everything is described in minute detail, without those details bogging down the natural flow of the story. The author’s writing style reminds me a lot of that of Sarah Dunant—both in tone and content.

[vicksiedo_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Lynn Cullen's Sofonisba is another modern minded woman in a thoroughly non-modern world, making her way. The characters were well written, and the story of Don Juan and the young queen was especially poignant for me. Even though the King loved and adored her, her heart was drawn to Don Juan, his half brother. I felt her heartbreak as she was forced to do her duty. The main character and narrator, Sofinisba, was an excellent observer of others, but her own journey wasn't as compelling to me for some reason. As a female painter she desired fame and fortune as her male counterparts enjoyed, but that was not to be. I was surprised she participated in the young queen's escapades, because she seemed more like a person who would have valued her own skin very much, and not have put it at risk! The information given at the end about the historical truths behind the story was very interesting.Overall, I definitely recommend this one :-)

[motivatedmomma · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This historical fiction title was an interesting read on the little known life of Sofonisba Anguissola , the first famous woman Renaissance painter. Cullen weaves an interesting tale which starts with the main character studying under the master himself, Michelangelo. After fleeing Rome, the artist is summoned by King Philip of Spain to take a position as a lady-in-waiting and personal painting instructor to his new bride, Queen Elisabeth. Giving us a taste of life during the Spanish Inquisition and the usual political intrigue of a royal court, Cullen has constructed a compelling tale.

[nvrlvedurmind · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I really enjoy historical fiction and I really enjoyed the fact that this book contained mentions of a lot of real works of art.This book is mostly set amid the royal spanish court and although Sofonisba is the narrator, it does center a lot of its attention on the young spanish queen, and her relationship with the king and his brother. I did like this book, there were moments when I felt I could not put it down, but there were also moments that I felt like it dragged on a bit and lacked action and direction. I have to admit that I was a bit dissapointed with the ending. I felt it ended suddenly and on a very melancholy note, but overall its a nice book.

[lbmillar_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A very interesting read about a female Renaissance painter Sofonisba Anguissola. The novel is well researched with fictional additions. It has sparked my interested in the time and characters. The chapter intros on artistic methods were very interesting. Well worth reading

[kimlord_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Sofonisba Anguissola, an Italian painter, is the narrator of this well written debut adult novel. Cullen, a YA writer, breathes life into a the art world of Michelangelo with Sofonisba giving keen observations of her work and the people around her. The setting of the Spanish Royal Court was fascinating. Would highly recommend to readers who enjoy historical fiction and court life.