I read this book in 2017 prior to my holiday in Amsterdam.

I found this book a very good read and an insight on the tulip trade of Holland .

I watched the movie adaptation and found it very mediocre ... I think consensus was it was a dull movie (rated 2.5 out of 5 stars) in a popular movie site .

Excellent read .. not what I expected as it i not so much about TulipMania but a great read .. even the ending was good

I notice that everyone who read this book liked it- I, unfortunately, did not. This book's title is Tulip Fever, not painting or artists, or even a love affair. There is very little about that hectic and often violent period in the history of Holland, and it's only incidental to the main story which is the illicit love affair between the artist and the wife of a rich, elderly man.
The movie of the same name was so much better. In the first few minutes of the movie one can learn more about the history of tulips and the craze which overtook Amsterdam in the mid-1600's.The movie is visually stunning, costumes beautiful, and the paintings are breathtaking. The flowers are gorgeous, some make you gasp. Judi Dench, who has a minor role, is excellent as always. If you want to know about Tulip Fever see the movie.

Katie

I really enjoyed this novel however I found it a little dull at the beginning. I am looking forward to seeing the film too.

Soon to be released as a movie, this book by Deborah Moggach (The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel) is a fascinating look at Holland in the 17th century. This was the golden age of Dutch masters. Jan Van Loos, an up and coming artist, is contracted to paint Cornelius and his young wife Sofia. Sophia and Jan quickly become lovers and become enmeshed in a plot that will enable them to be together. Wonderful descriptive language that matches the beautiful colour plates in the book. Well worth a read if you like historical fiction.

How sheltered women were in the 1600's. Sophia was married off to an elderly wealthy merchant it was a financial deal not a love match. Add a painter brought in to paint the couple's portrait who lusts after Sophia, a household maid who finds herself pregnant and the tulip crazed not which people invest their life savings in tulip bulbs hoping to make a fortune and you've got an interesting story doomed to failure, except for the two most unlikely of the characters. Told in present tense from the view of the main characters, the plot of Jan the painter and Sophia to run away and live together comes to a quick satisfying crash. It was at least satisfying to me to see hat brought their deceit to an end.

Poignant love story taking place in early 17th century. Depicting historic facts and illustrating how objectified women were.

Like a painting by Vermeer, Moggach’s latest novel is filled with gorgeous colours, exquisite light and intensely drawn characters. It is Amsterdam in the 1630’s and the city is struck with tulip madness. Ambition and greed push the price of each bulb to ludicrous heights. A wealthy merchant commissions a portrait of his beautiful wife; unfortunately, the artist falls madly in love with her. Their scandalous affair sparks a series of events that can only end in tragedy.

Really liked the writer & historical content.

Reading that this book was being slated as a movie that might star Jude Law, Keira Knightley and Jim Broadbent, I gave it a read. If you liked the book 'Girl with a Pearl Earring' [or have an interest in the golden age of Dutch painting], this one will remind you of it. I skimmed to the end, something I rarely do. Fun to think of the movie though! Moggach is associated with some good ones.