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Title: poetry,passion and history
Review: A truly remarkable and well-crafted book. The novel is based on actual love letters that were written by the nun Mariana Alcofardo. Katherine Vaz is an academic but writes pure poetry painting a vivid picture of life in Portugal during the 17th century. I learned about the food , customs,life as women and daughters of wealthy landowners and above all an intimate insight into life in a convent. As the story is set during the prolonged war with Spain the love affair itself is fascinating between Mariana( a Nun) and her french soldier. The love affair is more about Mariana's desperate and all-consuming passion, she is rightly described as the Nun who loved too much. A beautiful, beautiful story well worth reading. Something to sweep you off your feet.
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