Tracy Chevalier in general

The novels of Tracy Chevalier generally sincerely fulfill what they promised: they are thrilling, entertaining stories more or less shot with a historical thread. However, what I would like almost to thank to the writer is that her books, accessible to all, awaken a deeper curiosity for the "historical thread". Just to mention an example: while reading Girl with a Pearl Earring one feels a definite disposition to learn about the paintings mentioned and starts to look for the biography of Vermeer. I havent't read The Lady and the Unicorn yet, but I already recognise the tapesty-series and start to be familiar with the symbolic meaning of unicorns...