Sacred Hearts summary

The Convent of Santa Caterina

In Sacred Hearts by Sarah Dunant, we are transported to the year 1570 in Ferrara, Italy, where we find a young girl, Serafina, being forced into the convent of Santa Caterina by her father. Serafina's fiery temperament and her love for a man outside the convent make her an unwilling participant in the life of the nuns. She is desperate to escape, but her efforts are consistently thwarted by the watchful nuns and the convent's strict rules.

As she tries to adapt to her new life, Serafina forms a bond with Suora Zuana, the convent's apothecary, who is herself a reluctant nun. Zuana is a brilliant woman who once had a promising career as a doctor, but was forced into the convent due to family politics. She introduces Serafina to the secret world of the convent's infirmary, where she uses her knowledge of medicine to help the nuns in need. 

The Life of the Nuns

As Serafina's story unfolds, we learn about the lives of the other nuns, each with their own unique reasons for being there. Some, like the young and innocent Osanna, have been sent by their families to ensure their dowries, while others, like the older, more pragmatic Magdalena, have taken refuge in the convent to escape poverty or abuse. Despite their varied backgrounds, all the nuns are united in their shared experiences of confinement and the loss of their former lives.

We also witness the power dynamics within the convent, with the Abbess, Madonna Chiara, maintaining strict control over the nuns. Her authority is challenged by the spiritual advisor, Father Umiltà, who is determined to bring the convent under the strictest interpretation of the Church's rules. This power struggle creates a tense atmosphere within Santa Caterina, and the nuns are caught in the middle of it.

The Plan of Escape

As Serafina's attempts to escape the convent continue to fail, she becomes increasingly desperate. She plots with her lover, who is now a soldier in the city, to run away together. However, her plans are discovered, and she is punished severely. The consequences of her actions lead Serafina to question her choices and her future, and she begins to consider a life within the convent.

At the same time, Suora Zuana, who has grown fond of Serafina, is also facing her own crisis. The convent's new spiritual advisor, Father Umiltà, has discovered her secret experiments with medicinal herbs and accuses her of witchcraft. As she fights to save herself, Zuana realizes that her only hope lies in the support of her fellow nuns.

Redemption and New Beginnings

In the final chapters of Sacred Hearts, we see a change in Serafina. She begins to accept her life in the convent and even develops a deep bond with one of the nuns, Suora Magdalena. Suora Zuana, on the other hand, is able to clear her name with the help of the other nuns and the Abbess. The novel ends with a sense of redemption and new beginnings for the women of Santa Caterina.

In conclusion, Sacred Hearts is a powerful exploration of the lives of women in a 16th-century Italian convent. Through the experiences of Serafina and Suora Zuana, we witness the resilience and strength of these women as they navigate a world where their choices are limited and their fates often determined by others. Sarah Dunant's vivid storytelling brings this historical setting to life, and her characters' struggles and triumphs resonate with us long after the novel's conclusion.