A Love Affair
Inspiring the World's Most Unforgettable Operas:
Experience the
intense, lifelong love affair between Giuseppe Verdi and Giuseppina Strepponi,
the brilliant and seductive soprano who shaped his legacy. As his muse, lover,
and wife, Strepponi was the inspiration behind Verdi's most iconic works,
including La Traviata and Aida. Her influence was pivotal, as she became the
architect of his creative triumphs and the heart of his operatic genius.
Set against the
backdrop of Italy's Risorgimento, this sweeping novel intertwines their
turbulent relationship with the nation's fierce struggle for independence.
Through the heartbreak of three brutal wars, Verdi and Strepponi's passion,
betrayal, and artistic ambition come alive, mirroring the era's fiery spirit.
Rich with themes of
love, power, food, wine, and unrelenting passion, Viva Violetta & Verdi is
an unforgettable exploration of art, resilience, and the enduring bond that
transformed both an artist and a nation.
Praise for Violetta
& Verdi:
"A stunning,
significant book...that is rich, lush and drenched in knowledge. It is nothing
less than a gift." - Sheila Weller
"Smith's
historic drama embraces universal themes of class and religious persecution,
and weaves gorgeous language with an intimate knowledge of Italian food, music,
and political hypocrisy that contemporary readers will find irresistible."
- Jessica Keener
"Viva Violetta
& Verdi is a well-researched love letter to Verdi; fans are sure to love."
- Leslie Zemeckis
"Perfection.
You are right there, inhaling and breathing in the words, the smell, and each
piece of music. Bravo. It is both a love song and a love letter to the
irrefutable power of Verdi's muse, Violetta." - Amy Ferris
Buy Link:
Universal Buy Link: https://books2read.com/u/bxyr2d
Howard Jay Smith is an award-winning writer from
Santa Barbara, California.
VIVA VIOLETTA & VERDI, is his third novel in his
series on great composers, including BEETHOVEN IN LOVE; OPUS 139 and MEETING
MOZART: FROM THE SECRET DIARIES OF LORENZO DA PONTE.
His other books include OPENING THE DOORS TO
HOLLYWOOD (Random House) and JOHN GARDNER: AN INTERVIEW (New London Press). He
was recently awarded a Profant Foundation for the Arts Fellowship for
Excellence in Writing.
Smith is a former two-time Bread Loaf Scholar and
three-time Washington, D.C. Commission for the Arts Fellow, who taught for many
years in the UCLA Extension Writer’s Program and has lectured nationally. His
articles have appeared in the Washington Post, American Heritage Magazine, the
Beethoven Journal, Horizon Magazine, Fig Tree Press, the Journal of the Writers
Guild of America, the Ojai Quarterly, and numerous trade publications. While an
executive at the ABC Television, Embassy TV, and Academy Home Entertainment he
worked on numerous film, television, radio and commercial projects.
He serves on the board of directors of the Santa
Barbara Symphony and is a member of the American Beethoven Society.
Author Links:
Website: https://www.historiumpress.com/howard-jay-smith
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100009914652603
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Howard-Jay-Smith/author/B072FL7Y6P
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14208462.Howard_Jay_Smith
