Signora da Vinci by Robin Maxwell

Set in 15th century mostly Florence, this is a story of Leonardo da Vinci’s mother. There is very little known about her and what is known is based on assumptions. 

Caterina is a daughter of an alchemist/apothecary. She is taught about medicinal properties of herbs and processes of alchemy. An up-and-coming young notary pursues her, but without approval of his family they can’t marry. She gives birth to illegitimate child Leonardo da Vinci, who is snatched from her right after the birth. As a mother aching to feed her child, she convinces da Vinci’s family to be a wet-nurse. 

When Leonardo reaches the age of 13, he is apprenticed at Verrocchio’s studio in Florence and mother and son are separated. With time, she realizes that she can’t bear being apart from her son and disguises herself as a man and opens an apothecary in Florence. 

On her first day in Florence, she meets Lorenzo de Medici. She gets to meet the whole family of Medici, dines with them and even a close relationship develops with one of them. This part is very far-fetched. However, overall, it is a very absorbing story, rich in historical details. 

The author paints well the atmosphere of inquisition, its horrors and affects it takes on people. The history of Medici fills probably half of the book. Nevertheless, it doesn’t overbear the story. It makes it even more interesting. 

The story told in the first-person sounds very credible; making the reader forget it’s a historical fiction.

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