The Lady and the Unicorn

The Lady and the Unicorn by Tracy Chevalier
Reviewed by Claudine

If you liked the movie “Dangerous Liaisons’, you might like this book. Set in medieval France in 1490, the book is about the weaving of a series of 4 tapestries titled “The Lady and the Unicorn’ which captures the story of the seduction of the unicorn by the lady. Romance and seduction surrounds the book.

Nicolas Des Innocents (though he is hardly innocent, if at all) is commissioned by Jean Le Viste to do the paintings for the tapestries for his house. The tapestries are then woven, in back breaking fashion, over a period of 2 years by the De La Chapelle family in Brussels.

Within the span of 2 years, Nicolas is intertwined in the lives of both families, falling for Claude De Viste, spurring her mother to take a series of measures to prevent their budding but forbidden amour. He is also connected with Alienor, daughter of De La Chapelle house, which leads to bittersweet consequences.

I was recommended this book by a friend who told me that she was sucked into its medieval world and indeed I was too. Read it for the feel of the period which Chevalier has beautifully described in the story. The story is told in first person accounts, which is a great technique as each character’s description of the turn of events overlaps and lends a rich texture in the development of the plot. You really feel as if you are part of their world as they tell you directly about their emotions and take of their circumstances.
Readers also get a glimpse of the intricacies and detailed processes involved in the weaving of tapestries and consequently, learn to appreciate how much more precious and valuable a tapestry actually is.