“Offers a rare glimpse into an age that was at once colorful, magical, and beautiful, but also brutal and violent…An impressive debut.” Barbara Wood, New York Times bestselling author
Description
Inspired by Velázquez’s baroque masterpiece, Las Meninas, The Queen’s Prophet is an imagined account of the dwarfess Maribarbola of Spain (featured prominently in Velázquez’s painting) and her struggle for survival and self-determination at a time when dwarfs were kept by aristocracy as pets, prophets, and good-luck charms.
When the Countess of Walther dies at her German estate, her loyal dwarfess Maria-Barbara is forced to work as a prophet for a traveling magician, who betrays her by selling her to the queen of Spain. At the royal court in Madrid, Mari finds herself in a bizarre, enchanted world, a society culturally splendid but intellectually isolated. There she becomes Maribarbola, prophet to the queen, and, her survival at stake, endeavors to outsmart the Spaniards.
Mari’s wits and loyalties are tested as she becomes embroiled in palace intrigue alongside the politically embattled queen. When Mari’s carefully schemed prophecies dazzle all of Spain, she and the queen climb to dizzying heights of power, a place as intoxicating as it is dangerous. But even as Mari survives and thrives at the Spanish court, the loss of identity she suffers from living a lie makes her question whether she is really surviving at all.
Praise
“Offers a rare glimpse into an age that was at once colorful, magical, and beautiful, but also brutal and violent…An impressive debut.” Barbara Wood, New York Times bestselling author
“Patitucci does a good job of depicting the precarious, often heartbreaking, existence of dwarves in the 1600s. The court politics are fascinating, as are many of the players.” Library Journal
“Masterful storytelling, memorable characters, and an imaginative depiction of a world that is as layered and enthralling as the Velázquez painting.” Deborah Davis, author of Strapless
Details
| Language | English |
|---|---|
| Release Day | Oct 30, 2017 |
| Release Date | October 31, 2017 |
| Release Date Machine | 1509408000 |
| Imprint | Blackstone Publishing |
| Provider | Blackstone Publishing |
| Categories | Literature & Fiction, Genre Fiction, Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction, Fiction - All, Fiction - Adult |
Author Bio
Dawn Patitucci was born in La Grange, Illinois, and still lives in the Chicago area. She is a longtime faculty member at Moraine Valley Community College, where she teaches computer programming and database design. She is a Germanophile, a power-tool-wielding handywoman, and an orange male cat enthusiast. The Queen’s Prophet is her debut novel.
Narrator Bio
Justine Eyre is a classically trained actress who has narrated many audiobooks, earning the prestigious Audie Award for best narration and numerous Earphones Awards. She is multilingual and known for her great facility with accents. She has appeared on stage, with leading roles in King Lear and The Crucible, and has had starring roles in four films on the indie circuit. Her television credits include Two and a Half Men and Mad Men.
Overview
Inspired by Velázquez’s baroque masterpiece, Las Meninas, The Queen’s Prophet is an imagined account of the dwarfess Maribarbola of Spain (featured prominently in Velázquez’s painting) and her struggle for survival and self-determination at a time when dwarfs were kept by aristocracy as pets, prophets, and good-luck charms.
When the Countess of Walther dies at her German estate, her loyal dwarfess Maria-Barbara is forced to work as a prophet for a traveling magician, who betrays her by selling her to the queen of Spain. At the royal court in Madrid, Mari finds herself in a bizarre, enchanted world, a society culturally splendid but intellectually isolated. There she becomes Maribarbola, prophet to the queen, and, her survival at stake, endeavors to outsmart the Spaniards.
Mari’s wits and loyalties are tested as she becomes embroiled in palace intrigue alongside the politically embattled queen. When Mari’s carefully schemed prophecies dazzle all of Spain, she and the queen climb to dizzying heights of power, a place as intoxicating as it is dangerous. But even as Mari survives and thrives at the Spanish court, the loss of identity she suffers from living a lie makes her question whether she is really surviving at all.
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