The Maid's Request - Softcover

Mich�le Desbordes

3.05

130 ratings by Goodreads

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0571210112 ISBN 13: 9780571210114

Publisher: Faber & Faber, 2004

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The Maid's Request tells the beautiful story of an enigmatic relationship between a 16th-century Italian painter and his servant.At the behest of the French king the artist has journeyed from Italy to lead his school of students in the design and construction of a chteau in the Loire Valley. Despite the fact that master and servant seldom talk, each is acutely aware of the other's presence and routine. He gives her gifts of clothing and jewellery; she is sensitive to his every need. He imagines them dying together, envisaging her as lover, angel, Madonna. Finally she puts it to him, falteringly, one sleepless winter's night in the kitchen - she would like to continue to serve him after death by offering him her body to study. Then, on receiving news of her idiot son's death, she sets out to bury him, promising to return shortly. But the winter passes and she still hasn't returned. The artist develops a fever and, unable to draw, he waits . . .

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About the Author:

Mich�le Desbordes grew up in Orl�ans, France. She studied at the Sorbonne and eventually specialised as a book archivist, working in Parisian universities and also as a lecturer in Guadeloupe. The Maid's Request is her first novel, which was first published as La Demande in France to enormous critical acclaim. Her second novel, Le Commandement, is now a bestseller in France and will also be published by Faber.

Review:

A beautifully written tale about the relationship between a 16th century Italian painter and his female servant. At the request of the king, the artist has journeyed from Italy with his school of students to design a chateau in the Loire Valley. The artist and his servant seldom speak but he is very much aware of her and she offers him her body to study after her death. However, she is first off on a journey to bury her son and in fact does not return. It is a lovely gentle story with the character of the artist based on Leonardo Da Vinci. It has been published in France to much praise.

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