First published in 1953, Artemisia is a classic of 20th century Italian literature. From its first publication in 1953, Artemisia, a novel about Artemisia Gentileschi, an iconic 17th century painter, by Anna Banti, a brilliant Italian art historian, established itself as a feminist masterpiece. Like Penelope Fitzgeralds The Blue Flower and Marguerite Yourcenars Memoirs of Hadrian, Artemisia is a book about the process of artistic creation. Much in Gentileschis life marked her out as a victim rape at the age of 18, a forced marriage to a man she did not love and, a powerful, patriarchal father, Orazio Gentileschi, who failed to value her artistic genius. But Gentileschi did not accept the status of victim, in the years between 1610 and 1650 she produced over 50 paintings that have established her as one of the great painters of all time. She gave up everything all tenderness, all claim to feminine virtues to dedicate herself solely to painting. Sacrifices that Anna Banti, herself an artist, fully understands and captures in this amazing novel. What makes Artemisia a great book and unique in Bantis work is this double destiny, of a book lost and recreated. A book that by being posthumous, rewritten, resurrected, gained incalculably in emotional reach and moral authority. A metaphor for literature, perhaps. And a metaphor for reading, militant reading which, at its worthiest, is rereading too. Susan Sontag

Binding: Paperback;274 pages; Publisher: HopeRoad Publishing; Classification: ACQ; Weight: 332 g; Dimensions: 129 x 196 x 19

Something not quite right? You have 21 days from the day you receive it, to send something back.

Please note, we cannot offer refunds on fashion face masks, cosmetics, pierced jewellery, adult toys, and swimwear or lingerie if the hygiene seal is not in place or has been broken.

Items of footwear and/or clothing must be unworn and unwashed with the original labels attached. Also, footwear must be tried on indoors. Items of homeware including bedlinen, mattresses, and toppers, and pillows must be unused and in their original unopened packaging. This does not affect your statutory rights.

Click here to view our full Returns Policy.