I never fail to be amazed by the writing talent of Tracy Chevalier. It amazes me the way she sees objects and imagines lives behind them. I agree with the New York Times which has named her a master of voices for indeed she is such. I am overwhelmed by her talent to bring to the world's attention the contribution of these voices through such clever stories and her ability to bring dignity to the people who have contributed to the world even in small ways, whether through her fictional depiction or otherwise. The Lady and the Unicorn is one such book which tells the story of a French family by the name of Le Viste who commissioned the weaving of the famous Lady and the Unicorn tapestries, presumably towards the end of the fifteenth century. The tapestries, restored after centuries of neglect and mishandling, hang in a specially appointed room in Musee National du Moyen Age in Paris. The weaving of a tapestry is not something that would inspire interest in me but Tracy Chevalier certainly managed to do so throughout this book. From the austere nobleman who commissions the tapestries to the seductive artist who paints the blueprints to the overworked weaver in Brussels who fights for his survival and the dignity of his craft, this story had me spell bound with the imagination of this brilliant writer. My thirst for artistic expression is always fed by one of Chevalier books.
