Hi all:
As you know, I translate books by other independent authors every so often, and I share them with you once they have been published. A Spanish author (from Zaragoza), whom I had met, and we even worked together at a book fair, Francisco Tessainer, asked me to translate his book into English. I had been quite intrigued by the premise of his book (the subtitle of the book is: What if Leonardo’s life had been a fraud?) and was thrilled at the prospect. And I enjoyed every minute of it. This is not a regular review, but I thought I’d share it with you, and I recommend it to those of you who enjoy alternative historical fiction, although it is not exactly that, but an interesting “what if” that fits around the facts of Leonardo Da Vinci’s life, offering them an alternative interpretation. It has a wicked sense of humour, and I must confess I learned a fair bit about Da Vinci’s life, even if it was through the lens of this peculiar version of Da Vinci.

The false Da Vinci: What if Leonardo’s life had been a fraud by Francisco Tessainer
In the fifteenth century, when human life was worthless; and in a territory (current day Italy) then divided into powerful city-states; a man who looks extraordinarily similar to Leonardo Da Vinci takes advantage of an accident to impersonate the great master. But, as he does not possess Da Vinci’s talents, he soon realizes that if he wants to keep up the ruse he must appropriate the works of other artists. After savoring the advantages brought by his new name, the protagonist decides to employ the same methods used by the mighty of his time to preserve his newly acquired privileges.
The False Da Vinci is a suspenseful novel full of intrigues and crimes that plays with a possible/alternative past based on real events, and tries to get a closer look at the unresolved mysteries surrounding the figure of the great master: his private life, and the paradox that, in fact, he wasn’t just one man, but three, four, five, six…
Link:
http://leer.la/TheFalseDaVinci

About the author:
From a noble land (Zaragoza), whose people are often labelled “stubborn”, he camouflages that truth with the adjective “tenacious”. And it had to be so because, he was also born under the sign of Taurus and, to top it all, through his veins flows German blood (his grandfather was born in Augsburg). Therefore, with your permission, he’s, at the very least, “stubborn”. An economist by degree and working on the supply chain as a profession, he caught the bug of the written word after being bitten by a book at a very early age. The False da Vinci is his fourth novel, although in fact and by his own admission, the first one he dared to allow others to read. As the saying goes: “Nature never rushes, yet everything gets done.”
Later he also published on Amazon the novels (not yet translated into English) ¿Y después el bienestar? y Ruido de lluvia.
Web: franciscotessainer.com twitter: @tessainescritor
mailto:frantessainer@gmail.com
So, if you enjoy historical fiction, especially alternative historical fiction, like the Italian Renaissance, and appreciate a somewhat twisted sense of humour, check a sample of the book and see how you feel.
Thanks for reading, and remember to like, share, comment, click, review, and keep safe, smile, and keep reading!
Sounds intriguing.
Thanks, Mary. The author starts out with an intriguing premise and pulls it off beautifully. You can’t help but imagine what would you do if you found yourself in a similar situation, and it is genius. Have a lovely week.
That sounds interesting, Olga. I remember reading a novel about Da Vinci being a gunnery master for the Medici family. I looked it up.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3322041-the-medici-guns
I think Francisco might enjoy reading it.
Best wishes, Pete.
Thanks for the tip, Pete. I’ll check if it is available in Spanish as well. Da Vinci did have many strings to his bow, and one gets the sense that we don’t know how many other things he might have been interested in that never reached us. I think you’d enjoy this one, Pete. I know of your interest for stories about con men, and there is something of that here. Enjoy the week!
It sounds like a fun story, and ambitious, too, to write a story involving such a historic figure!
You’re right, Priscilla. I always check information on the subject I’m translating, to make sure I use the correct terms, and it is amazing how well he managed to integrate the main elements of Da Vinci’s story into the narrative. I suspect he would have been amused by it as well. Have a lovely week.
Olga, you find the most remarkable things. I’m very intrigued. Hugs on the wing!
Thanks, Teagan. I seem to be attracted to the unusual, and it also works the other way round. They do have a way of finding me as well. Keep safe and have an excellent week.
It sounds fascinating, Olga – so intriguing. Toni x
Thanks, Toni. I might be biased, but I thoroughly enjoyed it, and that’s considering I spent a lot of time reading it and rereading it. Have a lovely week.
Once again you’ve captured my attention Olga. Thanks for the introduction. I hope you are well. Happy new week to you. <3
Thanks, Debby. I think you’ll like this one. You’ll appreciate the sense of humour, no doubt. We are putting up with the heat and taking precautions. Stay well and have a lovely week. ♥
Added! And yes, I saw on the news how Europe is once again in a heatwave. Crazy! <3
Yes! No end of fun! 🙂
Stay cool! 🙂
I’ll try my best! Keep well!
<3
♥