AustLit
y
The Memory Cathedral : A Secret History of Leonardo da Vinci
single work
historical fiction
fantasy
Issue Details:
First known date:
1995...
1995
The Memory Cathedral : A Secret History of Leonardo da Vinci
The material on this page is available to AustLit subscribers. If you are a subscriber or are from a subscribing organisation, please log in to gain full access. To explore options for subscribing to this unique teaching, research, and publishing resource for Australian culture and storytelling, please contact us or find out more.
Latest Issues
AbstractHistoryArchive Description
'The Memory Cathedral is the secret history of Leonardo da Vinci, adventurer, traveller, inventor, and lover of Lorenzo the Magnificent's mistress. Based on Leonardo′s own notebooks, this expansive, multi-layered novel is ostensibly about Leonardo′s flying machines. But it is really a magical exploration of the man, his drives, his loves, his friends, and fabulous inventions. It takes place in the Florence of Lorenzo de Medici and in the fabled, mythical east. Indeed, there is real evidence that Leonardo travelled to Egypt and Persia under the protection of the Devatdar of Syria, Lieutenant of the Sacred Sultan of Babylon. Imagine what would happen if Leonardo de Vinci had been given the chance to put his fabulous inventions to use - his bombs and machine guns and submarines and tanks and flying machines. Imagine Leonardo and a young Niccolo Machiavelli flying in a balloon over Egypt. Imagine Leonardo′s closest friend Sandro Botticelli being exorcised in Florence and riding through deserts with the Caliph of Egypt. Imagine living in the dangerous day to day world of the Renaissance and knowing intimately the greatest personages of the age. That is the experience of reading The Memory Cathedral'. Source: publisher's website.
Australian Popular Medievalism
This text has been selected for the Australian Popular Medievalism dataset.
Reference: Direct
Importance: High
Notes
-
Parts of this work also appeared, combined with new material, in the novella Da Vinci Rising.
Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of
Works about this Work
-
Scanners
2010
single work
review
— Appears in: SF Commentary : The Independent Magazine About Science Fiction , August no. 80 2010; (p. 40)
— Review of Distress 1995 single work novel ; Crosstown Traffic 1993 anthology short story ; The Memory Cathedral : A Secret History of Leonardo da Vinci 1995 single work novel ; Dark House : Stories Compiled by Gary Crew 1995 anthology short story -
The Memory Cathedral : Eros, Magic and Myth
1999
single work
criticism
— Appears in: The Fantastic Self : Essays on the Subject of the Self 1999; (p. 10-18) -
The Art of Rewriting History
1998
single work
biography
— Appears in: The Bulletin , 27 January vol. 117 no. 6107 1998; (p. 68) -
Flights of Fantasy Inspire Author
1997
single work
biography
— Appears in: The Australian Jewish News (What's On) , 30 May 1997; (p. 1,4) -
God's Hand Lifting
1997
single work
review
— Appears in: Australian Book Review , September no. 194 1997; (p. 35)
— Review of The Memory Cathedral : A Secret History of Leonardo da Vinci 1995 single work novel
-
Scanners
2010
single work
review
— Appears in: SF Commentary : The Independent Magazine About Science Fiction , August no. 80 2010; (p. 40)
— Review of Distress 1995 single work novel ; Crosstown Traffic 1993 anthology short story ; The Memory Cathedral : A Secret History of Leonardo da Vinci 1995 single work novel ; Dark House : Stories Compiled by Gary Crew 1995 anthology short story -
Books Read Recently
1996
single work
review
— Appears in: Scratch Pad 18 , July 1996; (p. 4-6)
— Review of Distress 1995 single work novel ; The Memory Cathedral : A Secret History of Leonardo da Vinci 1995 single work novel ; Permutation City 1994 single work novel ; Eccentrics : The Scientific Investigation 1988 single work essay ; Old School Tie 1994 single work novel ; Lilian's Story 1985 single work novel ; Dark Places 1994 single work novel -
God's Hand Lifting
1997
single work
review
— Appears in: Australian Book Review , September no. 194 1997; (p. 35)
— Review of The Memory Cathedral : A Secret History of Leonardo da Vinci 1995 single work novel -
Flights of Fantasy Inspire Author
1997
single work
biography
— Appears in: The Australian Jewish News (What's On) , 30 May 1997; (p. 1,4) -
The Art of Rewriting History
1998
single work
biography
— Appears in: The Bulletin , 27 January vol. 117 no. 6107 1998; (p. 68) -
The Memory Cathedral : Eros, Magic and Myth
1999
single work
criticism
— Appears in: The Fantastic Self : Essays on the Subject of the Self 1999; (p. 10-18)
Awards
- 1998 finalist Benalla Award for Audio Book of the Year
- 1997 shortlisted Ditmar Awards — Best Novel
- 1996 joint winner Aurealis Awards for Excellence in Australian Speculative Fiction — Fantasy Division — Best Novel Joint winner with Sara Douglass's two shortlisted novels, Starman and Enchanter.
Last amended 23 Jun 2016 16:39:06
Settings:
- 1400-1499
Export this record