Maria Luisa Minarelli is a journalist and writer. She was born in Bologna, where she also graduated with a degree in history. Her work has appeared in Storia illustrata and Historia, and she has also written about health and tourism. Her first book, Donne di denari (Olivares), a study of female entrepreneurship through the centuries, appeared in 1989. A German translation has also been published. A tavola con la storia (Sansoni) came out in 1992 and looks at civilisations over the centuries and countries with a tradition of fine foods. Her first novel, the thriller La donna dal quadrifoglio, was published in 2008.

She lives in Milan with her husband and frequently spends time in Venice, a city she has always loved. She enjoys travelling and her interests include art and antiques. She is an avid reader, mostly at night, and she cannot live without her cats and the many plants which she grows herself.

History and languages have always played a large part in Lucinda’s life. After living for years in Italy, she is now based in Scotland, where she combines her work as a translator with teaching a number of university courses relating to the history of early modern Italy. She has translated a wide range of books from Italian, many relating to Italian history and art.