Company of the Courtesan by Sarah Dunant

In this novel by Sarah Dunant, her tenth published in 2006, the reader is drawn into the world of Renaissance Italy by the narrator, Buccino, a dwarf who is the partner and assistant to the beautiful courtesan of Rome, Fiammetta Bianchini. The story begins in 1527 when Rome is besieged by the troops of the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V, during which Fiammetta's sumptuous house is torched and destroyed by soldiers and the pair flee the City towards Venice. In the attack Fiammetta has incurred disfiguring injuries and her golden hair has been cruelly shorn. They manage to smuggle out jewels by swallowing the stones through which means they intend to salvage a life for themselves in Venice.
As Fiametta is beautiful so Buccino is deformed and the theme of Beauty and the Beast runs throughout the novel. When they arrive in Venice they enrol the help of La Draga, a blind and crippled healer called by some a witch. She prepares salves for Fiametta's injuries and weaves extensions to restore her hair thus preparing her to attract new clients. But La Draga is not what she appears.
The historical detail of Rome and Venice is meticulously researched. Venice, in particular, becomes a character in the novel and occupies the greater part of the story. The history, the streets, the canals, the water, the festivals and the powerful individuals are vividly brought to life for the reader. Whether or not the novel would normally be your cup of tea the character of Buccino draws the reader in and allows them to see the world of courtesans, artists, merchants and religious figures from the point of view of an outsider like himself where nothing is taken for granted. As outsiders ourselves we share his difficulties and the maneuverings of himself and Fiammetta as they endeavour to improve their position. An artist introduced almost incidentally is Tiziano (better known as Titian) and we learn that Fiammetta was the model for Titian's great work Venus of Urbino. In fact the origin of the model for Titian's painting is unknown.
Sarah Dunant is an acclaimed writer and, as I have not read any of her other works, I would certainly be tempted to try another.