Lucia

A Venetian Life in the Age of Napoleon

De: Andrea di Robilant

Narrado por: Stephen Hoye

In 1787, Lucia, the beautiful 16-year-old daughter of a prominent Venetian statesman, is married off to Alvise Mocenigo, scion of one of the most powerful Venetian families. But their life as a golden couple will be suddenly transformed when Venice falls to Bonaparte.

As the larger events unfolding around Lucia mingle with her most personal concerns, we witness - through her letters to her sister and other primary sources - her painful series of miscarriages and the pressure on her to produce an heir; her impassioned affair with an Austrian officer and its stunning results; the glamour and strain of her career as a hostess in Hapsburg Vienna and lady-in-waiting at the court of Napoleon's stepson, Prince Eugène de Beauharnais; her intimate relationship with the Empress Joséphine; and her amazing firsthand account of the defeat of Napoleon in Paris in 1814.

In her later years, Lucia, regal and still beautiful and a bit battle-hardened herself, was Byron's landlord during the poet's stay in Venice. In a fitting finale to this sweeping drama, Lucia stands as a relic of a lost golden age: she created, in part, the aura that gave rise to the Romantic view of Italy and its culture that we still nourish today.

With the brave and articulate Lucia at the center of his re-creation of this remarkable historical period, Andrea di Robilant has once again reached across the centuries, and deep into his own past, to bring history to rich and vivid life.

©2007 Andrea di Robilant (P)2008 Tantor

Reseñas de la Crítica

"What an amazing life, what a great story! And it's so deftly told by Lucia's great-great-great-great-grandson." ( The Washington Post)

A unique Italian perspective of the napoleonic age

Having read A Venetian Affair which was about the unrequited love affair of Lucia's father, I was excited to read about Lucia's life. I particularly liked that it gave a insight into italian history during a time that is not ancient rome or the renaissance. It was also amazing that Lucia had close friendships with some very well known historical figures in France and Austria. Her influence on her son's development and close relationship with her sister were also very well drawn.

Depressing

I like the time period and it was interesting, but not interesting enough to warrant the book

Totally Fascinating!

Another amazing book by Andrea di Robilant which tells the marvelous...and true...story of of his great-great-great-great-grandmother Lucia Mocenigo through her letters. Reads like a novel! Beautifully read by Stephen Hoye.

Fascinating!

I love the way this biography weaves together the story of Lucia’s life with the history of Venice and Europe at this time. I felt like I learned a lot about the politics of the time as well as the very interesting history of this amazing woman. Excellent narration, A audio book that one should listen to!