Discover the 2023 Winner of the Historical Writers' Association Gold Crown Award - an atmospheric and suspenseful tale of intoxicating art and dizzying ambition, forbidden love and twisted obsession in Renaissance Venice - Damian Dibben's kaleidescopic The Colour Storm

'A glorious, exuberant read' THE TIMES
'Addictive, ambitious and knife sharp. A compelling thriller and a celebration of art. Ravishing' RACHEL JOYCE
'A rich and rousing tale of art, love, rivalry and obsession in Renaissance Venice' CHLOE ASHBY, AUTHOR OF WET PAINT
'An engaging thriller and a compelling exploration of an artist's obsession with love and colour'
SUNDAY TIMES
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Venice, 1510.

The world's greatest artists gather to enjoy fame, fortune, and colour. When a wealthy merchant discovers a mysterious new pigment, he knows it would create a masterpiece in the right hands.

For struggling artist Giorgione 'Zorzo' Barbarelli, success is far from reach. Until he's commissioned by the merchant to paint a portrait of his wife, Sybille.

Impress him, and Zorzo could acquire the most coveted colour in the world - and write his name in history.

But it is Sybille whose eye he catches. And when their relationship drags Zorzo into a conspiracy spanning the entire continent, it is far more than his career in danger . . .
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'Art and ambition, love and obsession all come into play in this compelling and spellbinding tale set in Renaissance Venice' STYLIST

'An intoxicating story about an incredible period in history' THE SUN

'A terrific book . . . Absorbing, exciting and, dare I say it, colourful. An original tale told beautifully'
A. D. SWANSTON

'Hugely evocative, it's a love story, it's a thriller, it's a fantastic page turner' SOPHIE HAYDOCK, AUTHOR OF THE FLAMES

'An alluring Renaissance mystery of rivalry in love and art, where the gothic dank darkness of Venice is steeped in dreams of exquisite colour'
ESSIE FOX

Read this extraordinary, award-winning tale of colour, art, life, love and dangerous obsession now.

Praise for Damian Dibben

'An epic tale of love, of courage, of hope' Evening Standard

'I was captivated from the beginning' Rachel Joyce, bestselling author of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry

'Original, ambitious, moving' Stylist

'Bask in the brilliance' The Mail on Sunday

About the Author
Damian Dibben's novels have been translated into twenty-seven languages and published in over forty countries. His series The History Keepers was an international publishing phenomenon. Dibben originally trained as an artist and scenic designer before becomnig an actor and screenwriter. He lives on London's South Bank with his partner Ali and their dogs Dudley, Daphne and Velvet. The Colour Storm is his second novel to explore seismic events of the past, whose influence and power can be felt to this day. His first, Tomorrow, was published to critical acclaim in 2018.

Reviews
A glorious, exuberant summer read. Dibben's triumph is the character of Zorzo, a buoyant, loveable guide to the grandeur and the dangers of Renaissance Venice * The Times *
Ravishing, addictive, knife-sharp, ambitious, and singing with detail. A compelling thriller that takes us to the heart of sixteenth century Venice where the world's most famous painters compete to win the greatest commission of their lives. There is so much to think about and relish. Not simply the story itself - with all its glorious twists and turns - but the search to express ourselves. A celebration of art and a hymn to colour. -- Rachel Joyce
An engaging thriller and a compelling exploration of an artist's obsession with love and colour * Sunday Times *
The Colour Storm takes readers on a thrilling, murderous journey through the serpentine waters of High Renaissance Venice as one of art history's most gifted but often overlooked painters - Giorgione - searches for love, fame, and, most importantly, colour. Written with language as vibrant as a Giorgione masterpiece, The Colour Storm is for lovers of art, Italy, and page-turning plot -- Stephanie Storey
A story filled with intrigue and secrets as well as colour, Damian Dibben's new novel is filled with vivid descriptions . . . very rich in atmosphere and tone that keeps you wanting to read more * Love London Love Culture *
A terrific book . . . Absorbing, exciting and, dare I say it, colourful. An original tale told beautifully -- A. D. Swanston
Art and ambition, love and obsession all come into play in this compelling and spellbinding tale set in Renaissance Venice * STYLIST *
Hugely evocative, it's a love story, it's a thriller, it's a fantastic page turner -- Sophie Haydock, author of THE FLAMES
A rich and rousing tale of art, love, rivalry and obsession in Renaissance Venice -- Chloe Ashby, author of WET PAINT
An intoxicating story about an incredible period in history * SUN *
The pace of this elegant thriller quickens as truths are bared between controlling Jakob Fugger and abused Sybille with her tortuous past, while lovestruck Zorzo is pulled into a powerful situation that draws richly upon all elements of the 16th century * Perspective *
An intoxicating and illuminating tale, bathed in colour, passion and ambition . . . A must for lovers of Renaissance art and the wonders of sixteenth century Venice -- S. W. Perry
The pace of a thriller and the riches of a Renaissance painting -- Rachel Joyce * Observer *
A vivid imagining of the artistic world of Renaissance Venice. There is an incredible charm in its depiction of the great painters of the period with all their flesh-and-blood idiosyncrasies and flaws. The life of the studio and the supreme importance of colour in all the essentials of its make up is rendered absolutely convincingly. The work has all the more emotional power as it focusses on a lesser known artist as he negotiates the precarious life of his city alongside competitors, those whose names have resounded through history. -- S. G. MacLean
A great work of historical fiction, which weaves together conspiracy, art and love in a thriller * Ruth Millington *
Praise for Damian Dibben * - *
Bask in the brilliance * Mail on Sunday *
Original, ambitious, moving * Stylist *
What a novel! Ambitious and wonderfully achieved * Michael Morpurgo *
I was captivated from the beginning. Ornate, vivid, deeply coloured, and so precise I could smell and taste the world * Rachel Joyce *
An epic tale of love, of courage, of hope * Evening Standard *
A stunning and captivating tale * The Sun *
A grand sweep of adventure and travel, war and romance, and a rich exploration of love, life and loyalty * National Public Radio *
[An] opulent tale, with elements of both love story and thriller, featuring some of Venice's most admired High Renaissance artists hunting desperately for a dazzling new pigment that will transform their work and fortunes * Metro *



Book Information
ISBN 9781405925815
Author Damian Dibben
Format Paperback
Page Count 384
Imprint Penguin Books Ltd
Publisher Penguin Books Ltd
Weight(grams) 266g
Dimensions(mm) 198mm * 129mm * 23mm