The Lover's Path: An Illustrated Novel

THE LOVER'S PATH is a visual and literary feast. It's a beautiful object, a full-colour illustrated picture book for adults, enclosing a very moving love story set in Renaissance Venice. The star-crossed lovers are a celebrated courtesan's virginal and over-protected young sister and a cardinal's illegitimate son. Scattered throughout the book are envelopes that open to reveal love letters and Tarot cards, maps and alchemical symbols. The pages are edged in gilt. The lovers in the book are linked mythically and thematically to the archetypal lovers on the Lover's Path: Dante and Beatrice, Isis and Osiris, Tristan and Isolde, Orpheus and Eurydice, and ultimately Eros and Psyche. It's a timeless love story presented in a beautiful package that can live on your coffee table forever. It reminded me a lot of Erica Jong's Serenissima except without the explicit sex--and the eros is more haunting in that it remains in reader's imagination. If you love Venice and women's history, you're in for a treat.

You may have seen images from The Lover's Path, and read descriptions of it, but that won't prepare you for the impact of holding and opening this astonishing object for the first time. I've never seen anything like this book before. It's so much more than the sum of its parts - and heaven knows, the parts are absorbing enough in themselves. Far more than an illustrated book, it offers its reader an experience that's not just literary, not just visual, but tactile as well. Reading the book involves not only attending to the words and images on the page, but physically unfolding a letter inserted among the pages, or removing Tarot cards from an envelope. And these things feel so right in their context. As I read, I'm conscious of the feel of the pages and the curiously solid, comforting weight of the book, in a way that isn't distracting but seems an integral part of the process - an imaginative extension of the reading experience. It's intensely personal. I know that this is a commercially produced book; but it feels like a hand-crafted private press book feels. It sings quietly in the hands. I found the book invited me to linger over the illustrations and the beautifully designed pages, rather than rush through the story. I read it slowly, only a chapter at each sitting, immersing myself not only in the world of 16th century Venice, but in the luxurious physical presence of the book and its contents. To own this book is the kind of privilege that once only kings and queens could have known. Here, today, it can be had by anyone for a few dollars.

Artist/author Kris Waldherr has gifted her readers with a world of mythic proportions in this work. You will feel that you are in sixteenth century Venice, walking along side the famous courtesan Tullia Ziani, and her talented younger sister Filomena - the Nightengale. Woven into this feminist tale are the romantic myths of Beatrice and Dante, Danae and Zeus, Tristan and Isolde, the swan maiden, Psyche and Cupid, Orpheus and Eurydice, and Isis and Osiris. Through well written words, stunning graphics, maps and letters - we enter another world, one of beauty and grace, but one that is also inhabited by sorrow and tragedy. As for those letters - in a very unique device, Waldherr presents us with several envelopes containing the letters referred to in her story, as part of the book. The reader is also gifted with the cards drawn for Filomena in a Tarot reading. From the superb quality of the illustrations, to the gilt edged pages, the wonder maps, and the depth of thought presented here - this is a "must have" book for all who would follow the Lover's Path!

This is one of the most beautiful books I've ever seen, one of the most romantic, and at the same time contains strong female characters and historical accuracy. As a visual artist myself I know what went into this--years of meticulous research, endless revisions, and a huge wallop of talent. The reproduction is exquisite, leather-bound, gold stamping, and amazing extras like envelopes that open with separate letters that come out. In addition to the gorgeous artwork the story itself is compelling, both sad and hopeful, a moment of respite in our jaded world. Illustrated novels of this quality are hard to find. Take my advice and buy this book; you'll enjoy it and it makes a great present.

This is one of the most beautiful, clever, and unique books it's ever been my privilege to own. It will transport you into a different world and a different way of viewing the universe.