City of Silk: The Times Historical Fiction Book of the Month - 'Enjoyable and immersive'
By (Author) Glennis Virgo
Allison & Busby
Allison & Busby
16th September 2025
19th June 2025
United Kingdom
General
Fiction
Modern and contemporary fiction: general and literary
823.92
Winner of Debut Writers Over 50 Award 2023 (UK)
Paperback
352
Width 129mm, Height 198mm
Bologna, 1575. A talented seamstress. A powerful merchant. A fierce battle of wills Elena Morandi has gained a fragile foothold in a master tailor's workshop, despite the profession being barred to women. But then Antonio della Fontana, a powerful man from her past, crosses her path and threatens everything she has built. Fontana has every corner of the city in his pocket and Elena knows all too well of his past abuses, but driven to fight for justice, she hatches a daring plan to get retribution for herself, a lost friend and his other victims. The sights, sounds and textures of Renaissance Italy are brought to vivid life in this breathtaking historical fiction debut.
Glennis Virgo was a teacher of classics before she became a primary school teacher and later headteacher. Since her retirement, she has spent her time improving her Italian, visiting Italy (especially Bologna) and writing. City of Silk is her first novel and it won the inaugural Debut Writers over 50 Award. She lives in Essex.@glennisvirgo