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The Ruby Ring: A Novel ReviewThe current vogue in historical fiction has led to an influx of novels such as The Ruby Ring. Their authors take truly fascinating and moving artifacts and stories (in this case, the apparent affair between Renaissance artist Raphael and baker's daughter Margherita Luti) and then use them as the basis for a novel. In some cases (such as Philippa Gregory's various novels about English history and Emma Donoghue's Slammerkin and Life Mask) the results are fascinating and inspired. In other cases, such as The Ruby Ring, the results are dishwater-dull recoutings of what might have happened if everyone in history acted like they were in a romance novel. I will discuss the plot of this novel, so don't read further if for some reason you fear having this book spoiled for you.
One sure sign you're reading a stinker is if the heroine is immediately presented as a paragon of wit, beauty, bravery and intelligence even though she is a mere girl of humble means. Often a parent (usually the father, in this case the mother) has impressed upon our lass that she is very special and cut out for great things. And typically she has some kind of unusual eye color, for some reason, though in this case there's an actual painting so the author must lump it with the classic brown hue.
In any case, here's how this love story of the ages goes. Raphael needs a new model, he seems Margharita, he immediately falls in love, after some ridiculous dillydallying on her part when offered what must have been the equivalent of 10K, easy, to pose for Raphael (I believe to show her feisty independence, even though her family is impoverished, so her hesitation seems to make no sense), she poses, they hit it, they fall in love.
From this point henceforth, which occurs early on, the vast majority of dialog between the two consists of "I love you, bella." "I love you, mi amor." (Sex ensues.) This does not vary over the course of the rest of the book.
There are other characters, of course, particuarly a cardinal obsessed about having Raphael marry his daughter (who is ugly and weird, unlike super!pretty!and smart! and just as noble as the nobility! Margharita.) Most of them are pretty interchangeable. Often they admire Margharita and think she is wonderful, unless one of them wants to marry/do Margharita or Raphael (handy!)
There is also much coverage of the politics of art and artists, none of which will be particularly interesting to most people who has read anything about Renaissance Italy before. It seemed to me that the author was powering through those parts so she could get to the next "mi amor" scene.
The writing is dull too. The author has a tendency to inform the reader of things that one could clearly pick up from context. "Oh, Raphael, you signed the nudie painting of me!" "Yes, mi amor, I am signing it because I am proud that I painted you in the altogether and you are my lady!" "Oh, my dearest love, but you rarely sign paintings!" "Oh yes, but as you can see, I did in this instance! Now let us off to the bedchamber!"
Bleah.
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