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Lucia: A Venetian Life in the Age of Napoleon Audiobook
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(3.17) - 166 listener ratings
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In 1787, Lucia, the beautiful sixteen-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, as well as 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 on the page.
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"a unique story about the life of an early 19th century woman, written by her great great great great grandson, who used hundreds of letters from her entire life as the basis for this non fiction work. Lucia's life takes her from Venice to Vienna to Paris and all over Italy in this turbulent historical time if Napoleon and the forming and re-forming of empires and nations. Lucia encounters and befriends many historical people from Lord Byron to the Empress Josephine. Thoroughly enjoyable and educational."
— Lucia (5 out of 5 stars)
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Narrator Stephen Hoye is an excellent choice to carry the sweep of this historical drama.... His impressive and convincing range of emotion and inflection makes this sprawling narrative clear and easy to follow.
— AudioFile
Lucia Listener Reviews
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" Venice is one of my favorite cities to visit, so I found this story very interesting. It brings history to life as it is drawn from the letters of the author's gggg-grandmother. Now I'm eager to read A Venetian Affair, also by Di Robilant, about Lucia's father. "
— Dottie, 2/20/2014 -
" This book was great! It was an easy read for a non-fiction, it was interesting to read about a non-famous person in history. "
— Jennifer, 12/27/2013 -
" This book is fabulous. It brought so much to life for me...Venice, Vienna, Paris in the 1800's...It was as if I lived through it all. I simply adored reading every word. The author must be a kind of wonderful genius. His great great great great grandmother Lucia was an inspiring woman and her letters and this book are nothing short of miraculous. Why aren't people saying this more??? What could you possibly be reading that is any better than this extraordinary book? "
— Delphine, 12/12/2013 -
" I just read a whole lot about the author's great-great-great somebody or other, Lucia. It was pretty interesting, and I learned some more about the time period but I thought it was a bit lengthy. "
— Beth, 12/8/2013 -
" Fascinating look at Venice. "
— Teresa, 12/4/2013 -
" The true story of a woman who lived through many of history's great events. An absorbing tale set in Venice, Austria and France during the time of Napoleon. Lucia was even friends with Empress Josephine. "
— Diane, 11/28/2013 -
" A beautiful depiction of the author's ancestor, surprisingly intimate narrative through the fall of the Republic, the turmoil of Napoleonic Italy, the courts of both the Habsburgs and the Bonapartes, ending with her elderly role as Lord Byron's exasperated landlord. "
— Raully, 11/27/2013 -
" She is friends with Joesephine, so very interesting. "
— Jacquelyn, 11/26/2013 -
" Very interesting read, all compiled from her actual letters...good insight to (noble class) women's lives during this time. Engrossing descriptions of life in Venice + Vienna especially. A real woman's life filled with love, loss, travel, and the day to day. "
— Dawn, 11/21/2013 -
" A fair amount of history. Not as much information about Napoleon as I thought there would be. Interesting letters between the two sisters Lucia and Paolina. It was hard for me to imagine life in these times. "
— Gina, 10/30/2013 -
" Great book. Beautifully written. "
— Carolina, 9/7/2013 -
" Written by her sole descendant using the subject's collected letters, the book often reads like a history text. That said, it provides a first-hand account with detailed insight into life in the Venetian, French and Austrian courts, the fall of the Venetian State, and the rise and fall of Napoleon. "
— Linda, 6/11/2013 -
" I really enjoyed this book, and what made it even more enjoyable was the writer was a decedent of Lucia. Recommended read "
— Stacy, 6/4/2013 -
" This historical novel was more history than novel. Not my favorite read, but interesting review of the age of Napoleon, the guy was like the energizer bunny - just would give up! "
— Teri, 11/10/2012 -
" I have really enjoyed both of di Robilant's books about his ancestors in Venice. Both Lucia and The Venetian Affair are based on packets of letters he found. Di Robilant brilliantly brings 17th and 18th century Venice to life. "
— Frances, 9/8/2012 -
" The author compiled this autobiography from letters he found among his father's papers. Quite interesting life Lucia led. "
— Bernadette, 4/9/2012 -
" An interesting biography on the last days of the Venetian Republic and how it affected a young Venetian aristocrat. What gives it a personal touch is that the author is a direct descendant of Lucia. If you like history - this is a must read. Clear and quite brisk in style "
— Alina, 9/3/2011 -
" I listened to this. Good history for my research on Venice. I really think I'm obsessed with this city, smile. "
— Ann, 9/2/2011 -
" I listened to this. Good history for my research on Venice. I really think I'm obsessed with this city, smile. "
— Ann, 6/27/2011 -
" I really enjoyed this book, and what made it even more enjoyable was the writer was a decedent of Lucia. Recommended read "
— Stacy, 1/19/2011 -
" She is friends with Joesephine, so very interesting. "
— Jacquelyn, 12/29/2009 -
" An interesting biography on the last days of the Venetian Republic and how it affected a young Venetian aristocrat. What gives it a personal touch is that the author is a direct descendant of Lucia. If you like history - this is a must read. Clear and quite brisk in style "
— Alina, 11/18/2009 -
" Venice is one of my favorite cities to visit, so I found this story very interesting. It brings history to life as it is drawn from the letters of the author's gggg-grandmother. Now I'm eager to read A Venetian Affair, also by Di Robilant, about Lucia's father. "
— Dottie, 7/14/2009 -
" I just read a whole lot about the author's great-great-great somebody or other, Lucia. It <em>was</em> pretty interesting, and I learned some more about the time period but I thought it was a bit lengthy. "
— Beth, 7/7/2009 -
" Very interesting read, all compiled from her actual letters...good insight to (noble class) women's lives during this time. Engrossing descriptions of life in Venice + Vienna especially. A real woman's life filled with love, loss, travel, and the day to day. "
— Dawn, 2/23/2009 -
" A beautiful depiction of the author's ancestor, surprisingly intimate narrative through the fall of the Republic, the turmoil of Napoleonic Italy, the courts of both the Habsburgs and the Bonapartes, ending with her elderly role as Lord Byron's exasperated landlord. "
— Raully, 5/12/2008
About Andrea di Robilant
Andrea di Robilant was born in Italy and educated at Le Rosey and Columbia University, where he specialized in international relations. He lives in Rome with his wife and two children and works for the Italian newspaper La Stampa.
About Stephen Hoye
Stephen Hoye has worked as a professional actor in London and Los Angeles for more than thirty years. Trained at Boston University and the Guildhall in London, he has acted in television series and six feature films and has appeared in London’s West End. His audiobook narration has won him fifteen AudioFile Earphones Awards.