Helpful Score: 7
Tulip Fever has a little bit of everything: suspense, romance, and history. It's set against the background of the tulip frenzy of the 1630s. Amsterdam is stricken with the fever of tupilomania. People invest in bulbs, the bargain, they gamble, they sell everything--all for the glory of making more money.
I really enjoyed this book. I liked the format which has each chapter devoted to a different character. You get the story from different perspectives. It's somewhat like Tracy Chevalier's Lady and the Unicorn. In fact, if you enjoy Tracy Chevalier's writing, you will enjoy this as well.
This is a fascinating, fast paced historical fiction novel. I knocked it off in three days as I really wanted to know what would become of the characters.
I really enjoyed this book. I liked the format which has each chapter devoted to a different character. You get the story from different perspectives. It's somewhat like Tracy Chevalier's Lady and the Unicorn. In fact, if you enjoy Tracy Chevalier's writing, you will enjoy this as well.
This is a fascinating, fast paced historical fiction novel. I knocked it off in three days as I really wanted to know what would become of the characters.
Helpful Score: 2
This is one on my list as the best books I ever read!
The ending is GREAT!
The ending is GREAT!
Helpful Score: 1
Deborah Moggach's Tulip Fever is set during an interesting historical moment: 1636 Amsterdam. Ten years after the Dutch purchased Manhattan island, while Harvard College was being formed an ocean away, Amsterdam was in the midst of a tulip speculation bubble. Unfortunately, Tulip Fever mainly concerns itself with a melodramatic love story. When wealthy, heirless merchant Cornelis Sandvoort aimed at immortality by commissioning Jan van Loos to paint a portrait of himself and his young wife Sophia, little did he know he was inviting cuckoldry. Sophia and Jan fall in love and, along with Sophia's pregnant-out-of-wedlock maid Maria, devise a daring plan to be together. Unfortunately Love is offered as the only (insufficient) explanatory motivation of the main characters. The narration is a bit uneven, as each chapter focuses on a particular character or event such as "the painting" or "after the storm;" it is unclear why Sophia is the only first person narrator. This style leaves tulipomania as a mere background for a story which is being told rather than shown to the reader. Nonetheless, the ending is suspenseful as the plan is about to succeed or fail. However, those who enjoy historical romance or are interested in historical art fiction--Jan van Loo is an actual historical painter--might like Tulip Fever.
Helpful Score: 1
In the 1630s Amsterdam, a wealthy businessman is married to a beautiful, younger wife. He commissions an artist to paint their portrait. Predictably, the young wife falls in love with the young artist. There are some other twists and turns that are not predictable and there is some suspense about how the 2 young lovers are going to pull off their plans for the future; however I was not pulled into the story and could not get interested in the characters.
This is a love story with deceit and betrayal. There is very little character development, historical background or description of the tulip mania that has seized the country at this time.
This is a love story with deceit and betrayal. There is very little character development, historical background or description of the tulip mania that has seized the country at this time.
Loved this book...will be recommending it to my book group.
Fantastic story-weaving. I loved this book, an easy read and an engaging story.
Wonderful historical fiction romance. Set in Amsterdam during Tulipomania.
I loved this book. If you're interested in the history of trading in Amsterdam and much more, you'll love this book. The ending was a total surprise!!
An enjoyable story of love and the extent that people will go to for love. The main story is about a young woman who married an old wealthy man out of necessity, who falls in love with the painter commissioned to paint her and her husband, and her attempt to have what she desires. The actually Tulip mania doesn't come into play until the later half of the book. The story, like the Tulip Fever, emphasizes people acting/reacting to wants instead of reality.
I found the book to be good when I began it, entertaining, telling a good story for sure. I had read Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister, and The Girl with the Pearl earring, so I knew I liked these Dutch tales of the 1600's. But near the end this book took hold deep and didn't let go until the very last page. The characters and their secrets, risks, scandals, and betrayals could have easily been set in present time had the scenery been swapped. The concept of vice is not a present day invention for sure. Amazing, and unexpected close. I hope you enjoy the ride!
In 1630 Amsterdam, tulipomania has seized the populace. Everywhere men are seduced by the fantastic exotic flower. But for the wealthy merchant, Cornelis Sandvoort, it is his young and beautiful wife, Sophia, who stirs his soul. She is the prize he desires, the woman he hopes will bring him the joy that not even his considerable fortune can buy. Cornelis yearns for an heir, but so far he and Sophia have failed to produce one. In a bid for immortality, he commissions a portrait of them both by the talented young painter Jan van Loos. But as Van Loos begins to capture Sophia's likeness on canvas, a slow passion begins to burn between the beautiful young wife and the talented artist. As the portrait unfolds, so a slow dance is begun among the household's inhabitants. Ambitions, desires, and dreams breed a grand deception and as the lies multiply, events move toward a thrilling and tragic climax.
A tale of art, beauty, lust, greed, deception, and retribution- set in a refined society ablaze with fulip fever.
once again, it j ust didn't grab me, I never finished it
UK edition; diff isbn & diff cover picture.
