The Devil And Maria D'avalos

Description

An extraordinary true story of overheated love, desire, frenzied madness and flagellation in 16th century Naples, The Devil and Maria D'Avalos tells the story of the mysterious Maria, reputedly one of the most beautiful women of her time, and the violent death she came to at the hands of her third husband, 16th century baroque composer, Carlo Gesualdo, Prince of Venosa.

Promotion info

A fascinating true story of love, desire and murder in 16th century Naples Renowned at the time as the most beautiful woman in Naples (her first two husbands purportedly died from 'an excess of connubial bliss'), Maria D'Avalos has intrigued art historians, writers and film makers for hundreds of years A rich and lushly imagined history, in the style of Peter Robb's biography of Caravaggio, M, Luscious and evocative writing Will hold immense appeal to history lovers, art lovers, music lovers, Italophiles - anyone who loves a good story From the author of the award-winning Letters from St Petersburg.

Author description

Victoria Hammond holds a Master of Arts and has worked as a Director of the Shepparton Art Gallery and Guest Curator at the National Gallery of Victoria. An award-winning author, she has written several art catalogues and sponsored histories in addition to the critically acclaimed Letters from St Petersburg (Allen & Unwin, 2004) and Visions of Heaven: the Dome in European Architecture (photographs by David Stephenson; Princeton Architectural Press, 2005). Victoria is a full-time writer and art historian.

Table of contents

Preface1. Castello Aragonese2. The nuns' cemetery3. The Phlegraean fields4. Four carnival days5. Marriage to Gesualdo6. Spaccanapoli7. Gesualdo Castle8. A stiletto, a secret9. Montevergine10. La Sirena11. The garden of Do Garzia de Toledo12. Amalfi13. The secret palace14. The night of the hunter15. The prince of musicEpilogue