Veronica Franco lives with her sisters, brother and mother Paola in Venice at a time when that city-state has full control of trade and commerce in the region, the Adriatic and the Eastern Mediterranean.Government ministers, officers in the army and navy and senior churchmen live extravagantly and part of the lifestyle includes using courtesans defined as cultured and educated women who were available for whatever sexual practice was desired, for payment. They became very influential since they knew all the details of policy the men were pursuing.Veronica meets Marco Venier, a handsome aristocrat and officer in the Navy who is soon to become a Senator, but they cannot marry as the Franco fortune has been squandered by her father, and a marriage to Marco would require a very large dowry to be paid.Paola advises Veronica to become a courtesan and confesses that she herself had been one in her younger days. She instructs Veronica in all the arts necessary, starting with a real lesson in male anatomy, then lessons in deportment, what clothes to wear, how to eat delicately, and most importantly, how to behave in the bedroom.When Veronica is introduced to the aristocracy she is an instant star. She is stunningly beautiful and as well, is a real star in the poetry contests they amuse themselves with.She soon has many customers for her favours and now has money to support her mother. Then there is crisis as the Sultan of Turkey attacks Cyprus which Venice considers essential to the defence of Christianity. But Venice does not have a big enough navy. They ask France for help. The French King, a young Henry is invited to Venice. He has heard about the courtesans and chooses Veronica.Reluctantly, Veronica accepts. The next day, Henry gives Venice the ships and Cyprus is saved. Now another crisis develops. Thousands of people die, including Paola, from the Plague. The people have been persuaded by religious zealots that it is the immoral behaviour of the rulers that has brought down Gods wrath on the city.But instead of blaming the nobles, they blame the courtesans for bewitching the nobles. A church Inquisition is established and courtesans are executed. Veronica is brought to the court and accused of being a witch.Veronica is called on to confess, and does so, dramatically, but not in the manner the church expects.Marco then stands and admits his involvement with Veronica, and calls on all the other men to do the same. At first, no one stands, but slowly, one by one, many do. The trial is abandoned with the Grand Inquisitor reluctantly saying, I leave this woman to Venice which richly deserves her. Show less «