I admit to being quite ignorant when it comes to European historical figures. Everything after Rome fell is pretty much a gray area of if I know about its only because of a movie, TV Show or freak accident while reading. So unsurprisingly before I began this book, which is a fictional accounting of Alessandra Giliani, I went researching. And insofar as wikipedia can be trusted I discovered that Alessandra died at a young age (19 years) in a fire.

Well then. I guess I won't be expecting a happily ever after will I?

The author shines when it comes to descriptions. Her description of 14th century Italy, of Alessandra's aristocratic lifestyle, of the school in Bologna...this is all meticulously detailed to the point where I would be hard pressed to remember what century I live in. Its not an exaggeration to say I almost felt like I lived in that time period at times.

Unfortunately this didn't translate to the characters and motivations. Alessandra is understood quite well--Quick is at pains to have the reader understand the yearning Alessandra has to learn and become educated. The measures she takes (disguising herself as a boy to attend the Anatomy school in Bologna) so she doesn't have to live the same life as everyone else. Alessandra is well outlined, given the right tools to prove herself, but in the end Quick doesn't spend enough time on any one certain detail beyond that yearning.

And the other characters...truth be told I can't remember any of their names. I read the book about a month ago, but none of the names stuck with me. Which is a product of how bland they were. Even her stepmother, who disliked her so thoroughly, was given such a broad stroke for characterization that I'm hard-pressed to remember why she disliked her.

Whether its meant to be a historical fiction or fictional biography, the book didn't give me a good sense of Alessandra the girl. It gave me a marvelous sense of the problems she faced as a 14th Century aristocrat, but not much about the person behind the name. ( )

I'm usually not a big fan of historical fiction, but Alessandra's story drew me in right from the beginning. Her story is one that fills story books. The girl who is trapped, and longs to be free. Who knows that she is destined for something better. However where Alessandra's story strays from the norm, is that she actually does it! She doesn't just dream about leaving, she doesn't just wish to be better, she does it.

As a character, I fell in love with Alessandra instantly. Her fiesty attitude, her love of learning, the way that she didn't care about the conventions of the times. She is truly one of those characters that will sear her way into your brain. Oh, and she's so smart too! I loved the times throughout the book when she simply wasn't satisfied with the answer that was given to her, and she set off to come up with her own that was more logical. Alessandra is the woman's liberation front, before that actually existed. The fact that she had to dress as a man to accomplish what she wanted didn't change that she was all woman. I truly admired her.

Of course woven in and out of her epic journey is a Cinderella story of sorts. Complete with the evil stepmother who wishes that she would just disappear as soon as possible. The romance aspect of the book was really sweet. I liked how realistic it was, and how it was based on a mutual respect of one another. Alessandra and her beau have my heart. Prepare to be emotionally involved in this story as well, the ending wrenched my heart from my chest, but I am still in love with this book.

A Golden Web is a perfect example of a well balanced, well executed and extremely well researched historical novel. If you are not yet a fan of historical fiction, you might want to start with this one! Alessandra's story is one that is easy to believe in, and although Barbara Quick mentions that we aren't entirely sure if she actually existed, if she did she is my hero. Thank you to Quick for sharing her with us! I eagerly await more. ( )

Based on the true story of a girl in 14th century Italy, this was a fascinating read. Alessandra wants nothing more than to study medicine, but as a female in Medieval Europe, she is not permitted to attend university. This is all about how she triumphs over the prevailing attitudes towards women and leaves her mark on the world. ( )

The book was good but the story was predicable. ( )

A Golden Web speculates how the life of female anatomist, Alessandra Giliani, might have progressed. She was a brilliant young girl fascinated by medicine and how the human body worked. Unfortunately, she lived during a time period when it was not acceptable for women to be intrigued by such things. Her interests risked her being burned as a witch if discovered.

This fictional biography begins when Alessandra is just an infant, and ends when she is a grown woman. I really enjoyed reading about this new (to me) and fascinating character. According to the author’s notes at the end there isn’t much information about Alessandra’s life or family, but I think she did a wonderful job of piecing together what her life may have been like.

The first part of the novel, that took place while Alessandra lived at home with her family, was well paced and nicely detailed. The author took time to explore the sibling dynamic, and show the love Alessandra felt for her family. I loved this and found all of the characters absolutely endearing. Once Alessandra arrives in Bologna to study medicine things seemed to become a bit more rushed. I would have loved to see more time dedicated to her life in Bologna. I also would have liked to see more of a focus on the relationships she formed while there. It all seemed to happen so fast. Also according to the synopsis she “will find a love she could not foresee”. This had me expecting the romantic element to play a larger role in the plot than it actually did. Unfortunately, the relationship between Alessandra and her love interest lacked the development I’d hoped for.

Even with a few minor complaints I still found this book very enjoyable, and it was a very quick read that had no problem holding my interest. I just would have liked to see the author explore Alessandra’s life in Bologna more. I’d recommend A Golden Web to both adults and older teens who enjoy books based on the lives of real historical figures. ( )