The Painter of Souls

Beauty can be a gift...or a wicked temptation...

So it is for Filippo Lippi, growing up in Renaissance Florence. He has a talent - not only can he see the beauty in everything, he can capture it, paint it. But while beauty can seduce you, and art can transport you - it cannot always feed you or protect you.

To survive, Pippo Lippi, orphan, street urchin, budding rogue, must first become Fra Filippo Lippi: Carmelite friar, man of God. His life will take him down two paths at once. He will become a gambler, a forger, a seducer of nuns; and at the same time he will be the greatest painter of his time, the teacher of Botticelli and the confidante of the Medicis.

So who is he really - lover, believer, father, teacher, artist? Which man? Which life? Is anything true except the paintings?

An extraordinary journey of passion, art and intrigue, The Painter of Souls takes us to a time and place in Italy's history where desire reigns and salvation is found in the strangest of places.

“A celebration of the senses: what Patrick Suskind's PERFUME did for scents, this does for flavours. A love story which will also appeal to fans of Joanne Harris' CHOCOLAT ... The ultimate foodie version of PERFUME, this is an addictive page-turner filled with lavish literary gastro-porn-- RED magazine on APPETITE”

A celebration of the senses: what Patrick Suskind's PERFUME did for scents, this does for flavours. A love story which will also appeal to fans of Joanne Harris' CHOCOLAT ... The ultimate foodie version of PERFUME, this is an addictive page-turner filled with lavish literary gastro-porn - RED magazine on APPETITE

Vivid period atmosphere, colourful personalities and stirring action - SUNDAY TELEGRAPH on APPETITE

Kazan's rich, sensuous prose is always a pleasure - SUNDAY TIMES on APPETITE

A delicious and mouth-watering read, this is a novel which engages all the senses - NEW BOOKS MAGAZINE on APPETITE

Philip Kazan is an informed historian, a passionate cook and a keen traveller. He brings real gusto and humanity to his writing. He blogs at /.

Beauty can be a gift...or a wicked temptation...So it is for Filippo Lippi, growing up in Renaissance Florence. He has a talent - not only can he see the beauty in everything, he can capture it, paint it. But while beauty can seduce you, and art can transport you - it cannot always feed you or protect you. To survive, Pippo Lippi, orphan, street urchin, budding rogue, must first become Fra Filippo Lippi: Carmelite friar, man of God. His life will take him down two paths at once. He will become a gambler, a forger, a seducer of nuns; and at the same time he will be the greatest painter of his time, the teacher of Botticelli and the confidante of the Medicis.So who is he really - lover, believer, father, teacher, artist? Which man? Which life? Is anything true except the paintings? An extraordinary journey of passion, art and intrigue, The Painter of Souls takes us to a time and place in Italy's history where desire reigns and salvation is found in the strangest of places.

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