Robert hellengas superb debut, the sixteen pleasures, took the reader to 1960s florencea place of floods, fine art, and erotic discovery. Though the sixteen pleasures is initially in the tradition of american innocent goes abroad to encounter european experience, hellenga s depth and lightness of characterization and description lift it high above its genre. The sixteen pleasures by robert hellenga goodreads. I love robert hellenga s work and have all his books. He is a professor emeritus at knox college in galesburg, illinois, and the author of the novels the confessions of frances godwin, snakewoman of little egypt, the sixteen pleasures, the fall of a sparrow, blues lessons, philosophy made simple, the italian lover, and the short story collection, the truth about. Margot harrington, a young american bookbinder, goes off to try and help preserve some of the cities treasured old books, and in the process, becomes embroiled with an older italian man, finds herself, etc. Margot harrington, an american volunteer in florence, is an expert at book conservancy. Npr coverage of the sixteen pleasures by robert hellenga. The sixteen pleasures has 6 available editions to buy at half price books marketplace. The sixteen pleasures by robert hellenga, paperback. And what better book than one about loving and loving books. The sixteen pleasures audiobook, written by robert hellenga.
Robert hellenga discusses his fourth novel, philosophy made simple, and how it relates to his previous works. The international community quickly rallied around the devastated region, and art and book restorers from all over the world arrived to help repair the damage. This is hellengas fourth novel following the sixteen pleasures 1994, the fall of a sparrow 1998, and blues lessons 2002. Having said that, if youre interested to know what came before, below is a. The sixteen pleasures by robert hellenga overdrive. The sixteen pleasures audiobook, written by robert. Classical, italian, persian, and american cultures are superimposed on one another much like the palimpsest of history that alan woody woodhull, the protagonist, sees in romes skyline. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 384 pages and is available in paperback format. While struggling to save a waterlogged convent library after the devastating arno flood of 1966, she comes across a fabulous volume of sixteen erotic drawings by giulio romano. Sixteen pleasures by robert hellenga, 9780385314695, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. May 01, 1994 the sixteen pleasures purports to take place just after the great flood of 1966 that devastated much of the city of florence and its artistic treasures.
He is a professor at knox college in galesburg, illinois, and the author of the novels the sixteen pleasures, the fall of a sparrow, blues lessons, philosophy made simple, s. He is a professor at knox college in galesburg, illinois, and the author of the novels the sixteen pleasures, the fall of a sparrow, blues lessons, philosophy made simple, snakewoman of little egypt, and the italian lover. Set in the late 1960s, philosophy made simple shares many of the same characters as the sixteen pleasures, but it is certainly not necessary to have read the earlier book to enjoy the latter. I am very unhappy with all the typos in the book that should have been caught. Readers familiar with robert hellengas first novel, the sixteen pleasures, will hear its echoes in his second, ruminative book, the fall of a sparrow.
At the center of the story is margot, an american living in florence, whose career encompasses restoring books. The first edition of the novel was published in may 1st 1994, and was written by robert hellenga. Pdf the sixteen pleasures book by robert hellenga free. Inspired to sample each of the ineffable sixteen pleasures, margot embarks on the intrigue of a lifetime with a forbidden lover and the contraband volume a sensual, lifealtering journey of loss and rebirth in this exquisite audiobook of spiritual longing and earthly desire.
The fall of a sparrow book by robert hellenga official. The sixteen pleasures by robert hellenga penguin books. In the original version of the sixteen pleasures, margots father, rudy, had his own chapters. The sixteen pleasures margot harrington, book 1 by robert. I have read the book in its print form and wanted it on my kindle for a reread. The sixteen pleasures summary the sixteen pleasures by robert hellenga is a novel filled with art, intrigue, and selfdiscovery.
Best fiction of 1998 and the publishers weekly list of the best 98 books. The sixteen pleasures is eventually sold at auction for a large amount of money. The sixteen pleasures by robert hellenga book club. The main characters of this fiction, cultural story are. Sixteen pleasures by robert hellenga in djvu, epub, txt download e book. He saw the name hellenga and assumed it was a dutch author. Classical, italian, persian, and american cultures are superimposed on one another much like the palimpsest of history that alan woody woodhull. Go search best sellers gift ideas new releases deals store.
The city had suffered a devastating flood and she joined the stream of. Book conservator margot harrington hurried off to florence, italy in november 1966. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. An american expert in book conservancy, she is on a mission to save a waterlogged convent library when she stumbles upon a rare, valuable collection of sixteen erotic drawings and their accompanying sonnets. Free download or read online the sixteen pleasures pdf epub book. Robert hellenga the adventure of margot harrington, an american book conservator saving treasures in the 1966 flood in florence. I love robert hellengas work and have all his books. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the sixteen pleasures. Chapter one where i want to be i was twentynine years old when the arno flooded its banks on friday 4 november 1966. Both novels have been translated into dutch hes a rare book dealer in dordrecht. A novel by robert hellenga and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. The sixteen pleasures margot harrington, book 1 by robert hellenga book cover, description, publication history. In robert hellengas first novel, the sixteen pleasures, among the wouldbe rescuers is margot.
The sixteen pleasures by robert hellenga overdrive rakuten. The sixteen pleasures robert hellenga snippet view 1994. I happen to be writing a novel about a rare book dealer. Reviewed by irene watson for reader views 807 hellengas setting in the sixteen pleasures 1995 brings back protagonist margot harrington into his latest book, the italian lover, with romantic intrigue and comedy. While struggling to save a waterlogged convent library, she comes across a fabulous volume of sixteen erotic drawings by giulio romano, accompanying sixteen.
The sixteen pleasures by robert hellenga, paperback barnes. Runnerup, society of midland authors fiction award, for blues lessons, 2002. I remember my teacher commenting that the italians didnt deserve to have all that art if they didnt have the sense to take care of it. When book conservator margo harrington goes to florence to a. All content included on our site, such as text, images, digital downloads and other, is the property of its content suppliers and protected by us and international laws. The sixteen pleasures follows an american girl in her midtwenties in the midsixties who, feeling a quarterlife crisis, decides to move to florence to help with book restoration following the horrendous. The sixteen pleasures is a well written, enteraining read about a book restorer and her adventures in florence following the devastating flood of the arno river.
The sixteen pleasures contains vivid descriptions of the restoration of some florentine frescoes as well as the intricate details of book conservation. His seven novels include the sixteen pleasures, the fall of a sparrow. The sixteen pleasures sucked me right in, and i liked it way better than some other novels ive read about americans in love with italy. But the sixteen pleasures is a favorite because i remember being in elementary school when the flood occurred. Twenty feet of water in the cloisters of santa croce, the cimabue crucifix ruined beyond hope of restoration, panels. The discovery of an old book of erotica in an italian convent by a beautiful. While struggling to save a waterlogged convent library, she comes across a fabulous volume of sixteen erotic drawings by giulio romano, accompanying sixteen steamy sonnets by pietro aretino.
The sixteen pleasures audiobook by robert hellenga. Though the sixteen pleasures is initially in the tradition of american innocent goes abroad to encounter european experience, hellengas depth and lightness of characterization and description lift it high above its genre. Boil the tea water, get into bed, tell your dear family to go away for a few days, and begin the journey. Recently received an email from a reader in the netherlands whod read the sixteen pleasures and the fall of a sparrow while on vacation. Sep 01, 2009 margot harrington, an american volunteer in florence, is an expert at book conservancy. The suspense he manages to create in a book auction scene rivals that of any thriller. When first published over four centuries ago, the vatican ordered all copies destroyed. After ten years, robert hellengas critically acclaimed mysteryromance set in florence returns to soho. While struggling to save a waterlogged convent library after the devastating arno flood of 1966, she comes across a fabulous volume of sixteen erotic drawings by giulio romano, accompanying sixteen steamy sonnets by pietro aretino. His seven novels include the sixteen pleasures, the fall of a sparrow, blues lessons, philosophy made simple, the italian lover, snakewoman of little egypt, and the confessions of frances godwin.
Hellengas work is a multilayered novel, with sensual discovery and high adventure, as well as its. She is asked by the mother superior of a convent to help secretly sell a banned book. Forced to find her own way, margot ends up working in the waterlogged library of a convent, falling in love with an older, married man and also coming, clandestinely, into possession of an extremely rare book, the sixteen pleasures, a volume of exquisite erotic drawings and sonnets from the 16th century. Jane hamilton author of the book of ruth heres the new robert hellenga novel, as richly detailed and absorbing as the sixteen pleasures. The sixteen pleasures by robert hellenga 1995, paperback. The sixteen pleasures npr coverage of the sixteen pleasures by robert hellenga. He is a professor emeritus at knox college in galesburg, illinois, and the author of the novels the confessions of frances godwin, snakewoman of little egypt, the sixteen pleasures, the fall of a sparrow, blues lessons, philosophy made simple, the italian lover, and the short story collection, the. Robert hellenga is the author of the sixteen pleasures 3. Robert hellenga was educated at the university of michigan and princeton. Inspired to sample each of the ineffable sixteen pleasures, margot embarks on the intrigue of a lifetime with a forbidden lover and the contraband volumea sensual, lifealtering journey of loss and rebirth in this exquisite novel of spiritual longing and earthly desire. But the sixteen pleasures is a favorite because i remember being in. As she faces pressure from the abbess to sell the volume.
Robert hellenga august 5, 1941 is an american novelist, essayist, and short story author. The discovery of an old book of erotica in an italian convent. Philosophy made simple marks the return of the harrington family. Margot harrington, age 29, decides to fly from chicago, where she lives, to italy. Paperback rights for the sixteen pleasures renewed by dell, 2005. A centuriesold book is found in florence in this novel with a sympathetic heroine, a suspenseful plot. Buy a cheap copy of the fall of a sparrow book by robert hellenga. A young american book conservators discovery, while in florence, of a volume of 16 sensual drawings with equally erotic sonnets leads her to a romantic encounter.
In what ways is the sixteen pleasures a comingofage novel. The sixteen pleasures purports to take place just after the great flood of 1966 that devastated much of the city of florence and its artistic treasures. On tuesday i decided to go to italy, to offer my services as a humble book conservator, to save whatever could be saved, including myself. Film rights for the sixteen pleasures optioned by director andy tennant hitch and producer gigi pritzker the wedding planner, 2005. Robert hellenga was educated at the university of michigan and princeton university.