The Apothecary's Daughter - Tapa dura

A nobleman and his wife, an apothecary nun, an astronomer-mathematician, an inquisitor, a poet who is both lover and villain, a portraitist, a queen and loyal servants deftly act out a beautiful drama of tantalizing relationships. They take up their roles in castle and convent, some surrounded by ornate interiors, garbed in velvets and silks, garlanded with precious jewels; while others abide in simple space devoid of art or representation, and dressed in plain linens and dull calicos. THE APOTHECARY'S DAUGHTER is a wondrous tale, rendered in erotic prose and poetry, stitched through with rich imagery, humour and tenderness. It is also a story of trade and exotic travel, both across the surface of the earth and among the stars.

PATRICIA SCHONSTEIN grew up in Zimbabwe and now lives in South Africa. Her first novel SKYLINE won the Percy FitzPatrick Prize 2002, was long-listed for the International Impac Dublin Literary Award 2002 and came second in the South African SUNDAY TIMES Literary Award for Fiction 2001. Her second novel was A TIME OF ANGELS. She has a Masters degree in Creative Writing from the University of Cape Town.