David by Mary Hoffman is now available in paperback. To celebrate, Bloomsbury have given us 5 copies to giveaway! Retweet this post or leave a comment to enter. Open to UK and Ireland only. Close 29th February at 5pm.

Read our review of David here…

David by Mary Hoffman

Michelangelo’s statue of David is renowned all over the world. Thousands flock to Florence to admire the artistry behind this Renaissance masterpiece, and to admire the beauty of the human form captured in the marble. But the identity of the model for this statue that has been so revered for over five hundred years has been lost …In this epic story Mary Hoffman uses her persuasive narrative skills to imagine the story of Gabriele, an eighteen-year-old who, by becoming Michelangelo’s model, finds himself drawn into a world of spies, politicking, sabotage and murder. Set against the backdrop of Florence, this is a rich, colourful and thrilling tale.

Mary Hoffman’s David is a spectacular novel that will take you on a thrilling journey through Renaissance Florence.

The book is centered around the handsome Gabriele, an 18 year old from rural Tuscany who makes his way into Florence to find work and to meet his ‘milk brother’ Michaelangelo and who goes on to become the model for the famous David statue. Overwhelmed by his surroundings, he is targeted by robbers and has all of his money stolen. However, a rich Florentine widow witnesses Gabriele’s plight and invites him to see her. Here, his life starts on a path that will alter it forever.

Gabriele’s looks soon become a well discussed subject in Florence and he is soon employed as a model for wealthy patrons. We also learn about Gabriele’s romantic alliances and a lot of the novel talks about whether he will return to his fiancée, Rosalia.

Mary Hoffman teaches the reader about the struggles between political and religious factions in Florence at the time and we soon learn that Gabriele himself has become the pawn in a dangerous political game.

I loved this book, as someone interested in Italy and Florence in particular, it opened my eyes to history that I knew little about. I also enjoyed the way that Mary Hoffman has brought the world renowned figures of people like Michaelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci to life.

This is a fantastic read and I would recommend it to anyone interested in historical fiction and fiction alike, there is a spectacular ending that I was not expecting at all. I am looking forward to reading more from this author.

Thanks to Bloomsbury Children’s Books for sending us a copy. It’s here for you to buy now..

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1408800519/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=103612307&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=1408800527&pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_r=0BWP9FPSH98AKPFFEB68