I Am a Reader - "Juliet" by Anne Fortier

Want to take a trip to Siena?  Book a ticket on an international flight or read a novel set in the city, a novel such as "Juliet" by Anne Fortier.

This novel had been recommended to me by a friend who knows I am always on the lookout for books about or set in Italy and I chose it as the first book to read in the Italy in Books reading challenge.  A long novel, 447 pages, it tells parallel stories intertwining the tragic historical tale of the original Romeo and Giulietta, navigating Sienese family power ploys and feuds, with the modern escapades of Julie Jacobs as she tries to uncover her ancient family secrets.  The plot twists and turns creating a labyrinth peopled with characters, who like all Italian families, have generations with repeating family names.  So, at times it gets confusing.

In truth, the story felt plodding at times.  There was romance, intrigue, tension and mystery...not unlike Dan Brown's "The Da Vinci Code."  The characters were not very complex and occasionally even seemed overblown, so that was not what held me to the book.  Rather, it was what I consider the main character of the novel...the city of Siena, that held me captive and kept me turning the pages.  The author's detailed descriptions drew me back into my own memories of my time spent visiting there.  In my mind I rewalked the narrow medieval streets with their contrada flags displayed, I re-climbed the stairs of the Torre del Mangia to look out on the landscape of the city,

Jay in Torre del Mangia, Siena 2004

I re-admired the black and white striped architecture of the Cathedral and I re-tasted the gelato and espresso as we sat in the Palazzo Publico watching the people walk by.

Palazzo Publico Siena, 2004

Siena, like many of the towns in Italy, has done much to preserve it's historical integrity and its historic center is declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The energy of the horse race, The Palio, permeates the city. Held twice a year, and lasting no more than 90 seconds, this race draws spectators from around the world and displays the fierce rivalry that exists between neighborhoods. It is the horse that is important and that represents the neighborhood. The horse is taken into the neighborhood church to be blessed before the race and if the rider falls off the horse but the horse continues running, it can still win the race. Only in Italia! You cannot visit Tuscany without spending time in Siena.  Someday I hope to return, but in the meantime I will travel in my books!


Anne Fortier grew up in Denmark and came to the US in 2002 to work in Film.  She is a historian holding a Ph.D. in the History of Ideas and she co-produced the Emmy-winning documentary Fire and Ice: The Winter War of Finland and Russia.
There is a website for the book here.  It includes an interactive map of Siena showing where the various locations in the story are found in the city.
Here is a trailer from the book from YouTube.