Set in Venice, this tells the story of Cecilia Cornaro, portrait painter and lover of both the legendary Giacomo Giralamo Casanova and the disreputable George Gordon, Lord Byron. The book moves from the days of the great republic through Napoleon's capture of the city and it's becoming an extension of his empire. Cecilia paints the portraits of the great and good, as well as their wives and mistresses and records her own love affairs in secret portraits of the men she loved.
They're a study in contrast, Casanova who worships women, and who loves Cecilia 'properly', and the narcissistic poet, who demands to be loved but seems unable to return any affection. Both great adventurers, but only one of them seems noble, and it's not the one with a title.
I loved this book, I have never been to Venice, but would love to, even though the age of La Serenissima is passed and the city is no longer the way Lovric describes, conjuring up the great festival of the title and the many noble families who filled its palazzos.
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