Book
Blast ~ Historical Virtual Book Tour Presents....
Casanova’s Secret Wife
By
Barbara Lynn-Davis
Set in eighteenth-century Venice and based on
an actual account by Giacomo Casanova—here is a lush tale of desire and risk.
Caterina Capreta was
an innocent girl of fourteen when she caught the attention of the world’s most
infamous chronicler of seduction: Giacomo Casanova. Intoxicated by a fierce
love, she wed Casanova in secret. But his shocking betrayal inspired her to
commit an act that would mark her forever …
Now twenty years
later on the island of Murano, the woman in possession of Caterina’s most
devastating secret has appeared with a request she cannot refuse: to take in a
noble-born girl whose scandalous love affair resembles her own. But the girl’s
presence stirs up unwelcome memories of Caterina’s turbulent past. Tested like
never before, she reveals the story of the man she will never forget.
Bringing to life a
fascinating chapter in the history of Venice, Casanova’s Secret Wife is a tour
de force that charts one woman’s journey through love and loss to redemption.
“Full of
passion and rich historical detail . . . an enthralling read, impossible to put
down.”
Phyllis
T. Smith, bestselling author
“This is Venice beneath the mask: A dark and
fascinating love story hiding in the shadows of the golden city.”
Marina
Fiorato, bestselling author of The Glassblower of Murano
“Seductive and unforgettable”
Harmony
Verna, author of Daughter of Australia
“Breathtaking, beautiful . . . will mesmerize
readers.”
Rosanna Chiofalo, author of Stella Mia
Author's Inspiration
Author's Inspiration
I first became enchanted
with Venice while working at the Peggy Guggenheim Collection in the
neighborhood of Dorsoduro. I lived with an 86 year-old contessa who was
a widow and impoverished. She supported herself by taking in students and
preparing pranzo (the main meal of the Italian day) for a friend. The
scenes in my story of Caterina Capreta’s home are recollections of the contessa’s
modest, yet somehow magical apartment, which overlooked the shining Giudecca
Canal.
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Charming courtyard in Dorsoduro near the Peggy Guggenheim Collection.
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I returned home from
this trip sure I wanted to pursue a Ph.D. in Venetian art. A few years later,
while studying for my general exams, I came across a note mentioning the
memoirs of Giacomo Casanova. I had not realized that “Casanova” was a real man,
much less a Venetian. Intrigued, I immediately went to the library, found 8
volumes of his memoirs, and dove in.
Reader, I fell in love
with him. I remember sitting in
my living room in the middle of the night, feeling like I was cheating on my
(then, new) husband because Casanova was stealing my heart. He was clever,
amusing, adventurous, a risk-taker, and of course, seductive. I adored him.
In the third volume I
encountered Casanova’s affair with “C.C.” (Casanova typically does not reveal
the names of his lovers, though the identities of some, including Caterina
Capreta, have been discovered.) The story starts off innocently and charmingly
and full of promise. I tore through the pages. Theirs is a story of
passion, hope, desperation, loss, and enduring love. I became haunted by their
experiences together.
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Francesco Guardi, Il Ridotto (Venetian gambling house), detail of masked lovers, 1746.
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I’ve dreamed for years
of sharing this love story with readers around the world (so far, the book is
being translated into Russian and Czech). I hope in discovering it, you too will
feel connected to Caterina and Casanova across the centuries.
Giveaway
During the Blog Tour we will be giving away a paperback copy of
Casanova’s Secret Wife!
Giveaway
Rules
• Giveaway
ends at 11:59pm EST on July 28th. You must be 18 or older to enter.
• Giveaway
is open to residents in the US & Canada only.
• Only one
entry per household.
• All
giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspect of
fraud is decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be
disqualified at our discretion.
• Winner has
48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen.
Enter
Giveaway…
Links for Purchase
About the author
Barbara Lynn-Davis graduated from Brown University
with a degree in art history. She then worked at the Peggy Guggenheim Museum in
Venice and later spent a year there while completing her Ph.D. in Renaissance
art at Princeton University.
She currently teaches art history and writing at
Wellesley College, and lives outside Boston with her family.
Useful Links
Casanova’s
Secret Wife by Barbara Lynn-Davis
Publication
Date: July 25, 2017
Kensington
Books
eBook &
Paperback; 304 Pages
Genre:
Fiction/Historical/Biographical
Reference
Francesco Guardi, Il Ridotto (Venetian gambling house), detail of masked lovers, 1746 (full image can be found here) ~ Wikimeida
Reference
Francesco Guardi, Il Ridotto (Venetian gambling house), detail of masked lovers, 1746 (full image can be found here) ~ Wikimeida
What a fascinating post! Thank you for sharing.
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