la dama ed il compasso mylady and compasses


La dama ed il compasso
Ecco finalmente ci siamo :il 5 Maggio esce ufficialmente il mio nuovo libro.Camilla,nobildonna toscana, dal fascino carismatico, incontra l’amore negli occhi ardentidi Francis, rivoluzionario e massone, che ne travolgerà il destino, scardinandolo dalpercorso già scritto. Sullo sfondo l’Italia, incendiata dalle passioni rivoluzionarie, conosce insieme al fuoco l’ombra più densa: poteri occulti lottano fra insospettabili alleanze. Le associazioni segrete tramano per costruire uno stato centrale dal Tirreno all`Adriatico,cercando di utilizzare anche le monarchie per raggiungere i propri scopi liberali e repubblicani.Ma lasciamo parlare chi lo ha letto in anteprima :Sergio Rizzo : Poteva essere un’Italia diversa da quella che per 85 anni ha portato sulla sua bandiera lo stemma dei Savoia? Se le idee federaliste di Carlo Cattaneo avessero conquistato davvero i movimenti patriottici. Se Pio IX non avesse fatto soffocare nel sangue la Repubblica romana di Mazzini e Garibaldi. Se il Regno dei Due mari non fosse rimasto un’utopia. Se il Granduca di Toscana non fosse stato un fantoccio nelle mani degli austriaci. Se, se, se… In fondo anche la struggente storia d’amore fra la marchesa Camilla e il mazziniano Francis altro non è che una metafora del nostro Risorgimento. L’amore per un Paese sempre difficile da amare, e dopo tutto diverso da come l’avremmo voluto.
Camilla was a noble Tuscan aristocrat whose charisma and charm fascinated many. She encountered love in the fervent eyes of Francis, a mason and revolutionary whose love will overwhelm her, changing the course of her destiny. All this against a background of Italy, aflame with revolutionary passions, moving between fire and dark shadows, where occult powers are at work to form unpredictable alliances. Revolutionary groups plot to build a central state spanning from the Tyrrhenian sea to the Adriatic, and attempt to take advantage of the monarchy to achieve their liberal and republican goals.

This novel dedicates special attention to relations between the newly emerging United States and the events in Europe, and to those issues constantly found in the post Wilson era. The story highlights the many connections between US politics and culture and that of the Risorgimento: from the resonance the American press gave to the events of Perugia, to the help provided by American mason’s to their “Italian” brethren. A small portrait is also painted of the Grand Tour of Italy of that era, with a delightful description of the group of females Henry James termed “a curious flurry of birds”, American sculptresses and writers living in Rome in the second half of the eighteenth century

Astorre



Una presentazione dove tutto comincio`:Citta` di Castello ,la citta` dove Astorre venne educato dallo zio Vitelli.Nella cornice dello splendido museo del Duomo,il Presidente del Circolo Angelini:Luigi Chieli ed il giornalista Massimo Zanganelli mi hanno accolto con gran simpatia.Massimo ha illustrato tutte le connessioni con il territorio,ma il momento piu` emozionante e` stato l`ascoltare la voce di francesca Rosini che leggeva alcune pagine.Un grazie particolare alla fatina che ha organizzato il tutto Giuseppina Metucci e alla mia cara amica Alessandra Gasperini che ci ha fatto conoscere

This was a presentation where everything began: the town of Citta’ di Castello, the city where Astorre was educated by his uncle Vitelli. In the beautiful museum of the Cathedral, the President of the Club Angelini, Mr. Luigi Chieli and the journalist Massimo Zanganelli welcomed me with great sympathy. The most exciting moment has been when the voice of Francesca Rosini started to read some pages.

AstorreII


Eccomi finalmente ad Umbertide sotto il quadro di Signorelli che ci guarda benevolmente. un ringraziamento ai grandi amici Giuliano Giubilei ,Laura Laurenzi e Mario Bellucci che hanno voluto essere con me in questo evento voluto fortemente dall`assessore Simona Bellucci a cui mi accomuna un percorso di difesa del lavoro femminile. Un grazie anche al nostro giovane sindaco Giampier Giulietti che fa di questa citta`una culla del mondo della cultura.
Here we are in Umbertide,hearth of the culture in the upper Tiber Valley Two giornalist Giuliano Giubilei ,Laura Laurenzi (TV and papers ) an editor Mario Bellucci and two politician Simona Bellucci
Are there to discuss the education of the young people to the government

Astorre II plot

The Griffon and the Crescent is an historical novel that inserts a part of the history of Italy in the amplest context of the conflict between the Christian and the Moslem worlds.
The narrator of the novel is the Griffon, symbol of the Baglioni’s noble family of Perugia, which is set inside the medallion put at the neck of the protagonist Astorre Baglioni. The story goes from 1541 until 1571, years of war between Christians and Moslems.
The novel starts with the assault of Pest made by the Italian soldiers of the archduke Ferdinand of Austria and it finishes with the defeat of the Serenenissima in Famagosta by the Turks led by Lala Mustafà Pascia.
These historical events constitute the context of the Astorre’s life, who embodies the image of the lettered warrior, educated by a cultured mother at the Farnese’s court and depositary of the chivalrous virtues.
After having participated, with his brother Adriano, to the assault of Pest, he spends his youth in Rome until 1546, when he meets his future wife Ginevra Salviati, nephew of the queen of France. However the Pope, who considers Astorre not having enough money and fame, opposes this relationship and obliges him to go to the court of his son Pierluigi Farnese in Parma. Astorre will live there for a year, then, after a dispute with the count Guido Landi, beloved friend of Pierluigi, he decides to leave. In the same year he participates at the battle of Ingolstadt in the ranks of Charles of Savoia cavalry and then goes back to Rome where the Pope, forgetful of the old friction, names him governor of Rome. However Astorre knows that, if he really want to marry Ginevra, besides having the fame he needs wealth. So he seeks the advice of Giovan Battista del Monte, nephew of the new pope Giulio III, who suggests him to arm a ship to conquest a galley of Turkish pirates.
Therefore Astorre joins the pontifical fleet, led by Carlos Sforza, to help the Genoese troops in Tunisia fighting against the terrible pirate Dragout. Unfortunately the expedition fails. Astorre, skilled to fight hand-to-hand, is inexperienced in sea: during the night his ship sinks in the middle of a storm and he succeeds miraculously to save himself. Grabbing a piece of the ship’s tree, he gets to the coasts of Ventotene, where the Persian princess Sirin, hostage of the Christian pirates, takes care of him. After a long conversation on the history, the art and the culture of their respective countries, Astorre and Sirin are overwhelmed by the passion but the arrivals of some Italian sailors looking for their commander interrupt this magic moment. So Astorre leaves again to the Tunisian coasts to join the rest of the fleet, led by Andrea Doria, and he defeats the pirate Hisar Rais, nephew of Dragout. Then he comes back to Rome, welcomed with all the honors, and marries Ginevra in January 1551. They will have a child: Guido.
In the 1559 Astorre, who in the meantime has gone into the service of the Venetians, is named governor of Verona and responsible for the terrestrial fortitudes. After ten years he is finally leaves to Cyprus, besieged by the Turks, as commander of the Venetians army.
Before his departure Astorre gives Ginevra the medallion belonging to his brother Adriano (the two brothers splitted up) wich represents the Baglioni armorial bearings. In fact, since they were children, Astorre and Adriano put at the neck the two parts of the same medaillon.
The commander reaches Cyprus the 1 st of May 1569. In Nicosia he meets, among the others, the Lieutenant Niccolò Dandolo and, later, in Famagosta, the Governor Marcantonio Bragadin.
In the meantime, in Venice it is rumoured that the Turkish attack to Cyprus is imminent. This time the narrator is the Ginevra medallion whose point of view will alternate the Griffon’s one.
In Cyprus Astorre does his best to strengthen the defenses of the island. During an inspection of the territory he comes upon in a young woman who has been hurt. Her name is Cesidia and she has escaped to a death sentence decreed by a monastic order whose customs are rude and corrupted. Astorre decides to bring her with himself and names her “guide of the territory of Famagosta”.
In Verona the last news says that Nicosia has been defeated and Astorre betrayed his army, but Ginevra doesn’t believe it. In fact her husband has sent a letter to his friend Guidobaldo II where he declares to have received a precise order from the doge of Venice: not to move from Famagosta, considered the first objective of the Turks. Ginevra and Guidobaldo agree upon the fact that the wrong information about Astorre is diffused from some people who is reluctant to send reinforcements to Famagosta and is plotting against him.
The time pass and the resistance of Cyprus army continues but with difficulties. The only remarquable episode is the raid of Astorre and a few others braves in the Turkish field to recover the Venetian standard with the lion of St. Mark.
In the meantime, in Istambul people are preparing the last attack to the Christendom (here the narrator reveals some intrigues at the Selim II court).
In Italy it is rumoured that Venice interest is now focused on the project of John of Austria of recapturing Jerusalem and that the Venetians have already surrendered Cyprus to the Turks.
Ginevra is in anguish and calls for help the pope Pious V, the Medici’s family in Florence and Willelm Van der Hell, a rich Dutch dealer. In July 1571 she succeeds in arming a ship, the Annalisa, that finally leaves Venice with the approval of the doge (after a dispute with a group of women whose husbands are in Famagosta).
Unfortunately the ship will arrive too late. In the 5 th August 1571, after the Turks have laid waste Famagosta, Astorre and his companions resolve to accept a surrender to get the civilians safe. Once reached the field of Lala Mustafà Pascia, they are brutally killed (Pascia avenges the murder of his son during a battle).
Some time later Ginevra receives a letter that Astorre has entrusted to Cesidia before going to the field of Mustafà.
A few years later Ginevra reads the letter to her son Guido, who is twelve. There is also written some precious information about an ancient treasure that Astorre have found in Cyprus and that could be used to rearm a new fleet against the Turks.
Giulio is initially reluctant to follow the road traced by his father, but then accept to accomplish his destiny with a condition: to put away any feeling of hate and revenge.

risorgimento

A tutti coloro che mi hanno seguito .Per un po` non avete avuto mie notizie perche` sono immersa nella creazione del nuovo romanzo risorgimentale .Per ora il titolo:
Una piuma per la rivoluzione .
Presto vi daro` qualche anticipazione sui contenuti.

Astorre


A Spoleto durante il festival .
Ci ha ospitato nella splendida cornice di Palazzo Trinci ,la gentilissima direttrice della Biblioteca Carla Cesarini . Oratori il mio maestro Filippo Maria Pandolfi ,che ha esaminato gli aspetti politici del volume,il grande giornalista Sergio Rizzo che si e` commosso per le storie d`amore ,il Professor Michele Bagella ha discusso delle vie della seta ed infine l`adorabile editore Mario Bellucci.

31 Maggio Roma associazione Ciprioti

Evento un po` speciale l`amica Alexandra Zamba ,presidente dell`associazione ciprioti aveva organizzato una performance con musiche cipriote e letture del mio libro insieme con la presidente della casa delle donne Costanza Fanelli, mia veccchia amica e compagna di rivendicazioni per le pari opportunita`. Il luogo era pieno di ricordi .Le battaglie di tutte le donne incarnate nella mie eroine Ginevra e Cesidia .Evangelia Skoufari ha fatto un exursus storico,ma colei che ci ha strabiliato e commosso partendo dall`amore per il mediterraneo ed arrivando ad esaminare la contrapposizione nelle due culture della figura femminile e` stata Maria Paola Fiorenzoli. Un evento nell`evento e` stata la materializzazione del gruppo di lettori con cui passo delle piacevoli serate ,nella persona di un piccolo folletto bruno Gisella

4 Maggio Bruxelles

Gli amici veneti nella persona del loro rappresentante a Bruxelles Gianlorenzo Martini hanno voluto organizzare questo incontro.Tutti quelli che mi seguono sanno quanto era importante per me essere nella capitale morale dell`Europa . Essere poi nella sede del prestigioso istituto italiano di cultura e della sua coltissima e simpaticissima direttrice Sira Miori e` stato un plus.I due presentatori Marco Zatterin e Diego Marani sono stati brillanti e divertenti oltre ogni modo .Si e` sconfinato a parlare di risorgimento e di stati sovranazionali (quasi una anticipazione del mio prossimo libro.)
Un ringraziamento particolare per la efficentissima organizzazione va alle due brillanti esponenti degli Umbri a B, Cesidia Ramaccioni e Serena Innamorati
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