AshehougAgency

Purple

During th Antiquity, purple was made from secretion from snails, and the pigment was very expensive. In 1458, an ex-writer of erotic texts, Aenas Silvius Piccolomini, became the new pope in Rome. He wanted to launch a crusade against Constantinopel, and in order to do this, he needed purple. From a cloister on the Norwegian west coast he summons Anna, who knows the secret method to produce the colour. She marries the Pope’s guard, and is supposed to share her knowledge with the church. But Anna challenges the conventions, something that get fatal consequences for herself and others. Purple is a novel that combines a unique historical material with skilful story-telling.

Praise for Purple:

"A sensual historical novel... a convincing and rather raw story about inner motivations, greed and fidelity"
(Norwegian Elle)

"A grandiose novel about a Norwegian purple colourist who challenges fate during the inquisition in Italy.... Ambitious, moving and entertaining"
(Adresseavisen)

"This book does something to you. Whether it’s the time in which it is set, its historical framework, or the people she describes that get to me, I don’t know. It is probably everything, the entire book. Vibeke Løkkeberg puts people’s thoughts and actions into words in a way that renders this book very relevant indeed"
(Vårt Land)

"Magnificent drama inspired by history... seductive and exciting reading"
(VG)

"A most professional piece of work"
(Dagbladet)

First published: 2002, Forlaget Oktober
Vibeke Løkkeberg: Biography and bibliography

Click here for sample translations: English , Italian

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