by Anne Kyle
First published 1933
Sixteen-year-old Neno works as an apprentice to a Florentine silk merchant in 1453. When his master's son prepares for a trading voyage to Constantinople, Neno joins the expedition. The young apprentice must navigate the complexities of international commerce while adapting to an unfamiliar culture. As the Byzantine capital faces political upheaval, Neno finds himself caught between two worlds. His journey becomes more than a business venture as he discovers what it means to grow up far from home. The story explores how a young man's understanding of loyalty, ambition, and identity shifts when tested by distance and danger.
Genres: historical-fiction, adventure, coming-of-age, international
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: coming-of-age, fish-out-of-water
Setting: Florence, Constantinople, Byzantine Empire
Period: 1453
276 pages · Hardcover · Houghton Mifflin