Winner of the Premio Selezione Campiello prize and the Premio Alessandro Manzoni award for best historical novel, The Watercolourist is an intoxicating romantic mystery set in Italy's idyllic landscapes during the 19th Century.

Young and talented Bianca discovers a world teeming with intrigue and whispered secrets in a grand Milanese villa where she's commissioned to illustrate its magnificent gardens. As luminous strokes of colour bloom on her canvas, her curiosity thickens around the mysterious world of the villa, and its owner, eccentric poet Don Titta.

Drawn deeper into the villa's labyrinth and the enticing whispers of Don Titta and his poet friends, Bianca forgets the dangers that lie in hidden corners. After glimpsing a mysterious figure in the grounds, Bianca becomes determined to unmask the villa's truths, all the while oblivious to the watchful eyes on her.

Against the backdrop of a changing Italy, The Watercolourist is a captivating journey of love, secrets, and art.

A mystery and coming-of-age novel set in a grand house in nineteenth-century Italy - Kate Morton meets the Brontes.

About the Author
Beatrice Masini was born in Milan. She is a well-known and successful writer of books for children and teens, translated into over twenty languages, from Finnish to Thai. She works as an editor in an Italian publishing group and has translated books such as the Harry Potter saga by J. K. Rowling. In 2004 she received the prestigious Andersen Prize for best children's author of the year.

Reviews
Bianca is reminiscent of both Elizabeth Bennet of Pride and Prejudice and Jo March of Little Women * Il Sole 24 Ore *
There's something of Manzoni . . . there are the heartbeats of the youngest Bronte sister, Anne, with her Agnes Grey . . . and, as in Rowling's Casual Vacancy, children are the best part of the story * la Repubblica *
The writing is evocative, the main character engaging, and the landscape clear and lovely in the reader's mind * Sydney Morning Herald *



Book Information
ISBN 9781447257745
Author Beatrice Masini
Format Paperback
Page Count 336
Imprint Pan Books
Publisher Pan Macmillan
Weight(grams) 242g
Dimensions(mm) 197mm * 130mm * 23mm