This beautiful softcover edition is in near fine condition, with no marks or tears and only minimal shelf wear. The pages are tight and unmarked, and the book is tight, square, and well-preserved. Duchessina: A Novel by Carolyn Meyer centers on Catherine de' Medici, who would rise to become one of the most powerful and controversial queens in European history. The story explores her early life, highlighting her challenges as an orphaned heiress in 16th-century Florence. La Murate Convent, where Catherine spent her formative years, was renowned for its piety, craftsmanship, and dedication to learning. Following Renaissance traditions, the convent produced fine linens and illuminated manuscripts, including exquisite Books of Hours. Within this disciplined and sheltered environment, Catherine deepened her religious understanding and developed resilience shaped by the nuns’ values of endurance and submission. A captivating and beautifully written novel.