tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19307003.post747737375322735281..comments2024-03-27T22:25:42.129-05:00Comments on Reading the Past: An interview with Elizabeth Loupas, author of The Second DuchessSarah Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13340312953393474963noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19307003.post-56079147552793281142020-02-03T22:56:18.245-06:002020-02-03T22:56:18.245-06:00A great interview, a great book, and a great era.A great interview, a great book, and a great era.Mario Hamamehnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19307003.post-26886787819461517742013-09-24T13:52:16.871-05:002013-09-24T13:52:16.871-05:00This book was an excellent book very intriguing an...This book was an excellent book very intriguing and the story line was very entertaining Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19307003.post-4526685744247607682011-03-04T14:10:29.558-06:002011-03-04T14:10:29.558-06:00Thank you for the intriguing comments, Ms. Loupas....Thank you for the intriguing comments, Ms. Loupas. It sounds as if the disconnect between the commonly accepted view of Browning’s Duke and the Renaissance prince of actual history created a dynamic, inspiring tension as you shaped your own version of the man. I look forward to "meeting" your creation.Daniellehttp://romanticarmchairtraveller.typepad.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19307003.post-67568957932160564032011-03-03T23:22:54.563-06:002011-03-03T23:22:54.563-06:00Sarah, you're right, it is a lovely cover--one...Sarah, you're right, it is a lovely cover--one of the first things I noticed.<br /><br />Anyway, after reading this, I had to go look up Alfonso--and Lucrezia, and Barbara, and Margherita, his third wife. By the time I got to the end, I wondered if he was mellowing a bit in his later years. He seems to have gone to quite some trouble to give Margherita pleasure, forming the concert of ladies for her benefit and allowing her to dance in private ballet performances. Of course, she was very much younger than he.<br /><br />By the way, if you go to Wikipedia for a view of Lucrezia's portrait<br /><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucrezia_di_Cosimo_de%27_Medici" title="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucrezia_di_Cosimo_de%27_Medici" rel="nofollow">Here</a> <br /><br />and compare it to Alfonso's, you can understand them not getting along--the lady looks as if she'd have some fairly strong opinions of her own.Lucyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17779576142896860206noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19307003.post-51336983124332569682011-03-03T22:52:40.693-06:002011-03-03T22:52:40.693-06:00Thanks for a very nice interview.Thanks for a very nice interview.Mysticahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10941269615559681014noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19307003.post-51036215532296269422011-03-03T21:59:32.704-06:002011-03-03T21:59:32.704-06:00Hi, and thanks to everyone for your wonderful comm...Hi, and thanks to everyone for your wonderful comments!<br /><br />Danielle, it's interesting that you ask if writing the book changed my perception of Alfonso, because it did, very much so. The way Browning himself said he intended the poem to be read, and which a million students and critics have expounded, is that the duke is a madman and that he had his first duchess murdered. There’s something to be said for it--it’s compelling drama.<br /><br />The other way to read the poem is with the genuine historical personage in mind. Duke Alfonso II d’Este was a soldier, a sportsman, a musician. He fought in the French army with his cousin Henri II of France. He was a world-class tennis player--the first written book of rules for modern tennis is dedicated to him. He was the patron of the first professional female singers in Europe, the Consort of Ladies. So although he was indeed vain, arrogant, and ruthless, he was a sixteenth-century prince and it was expected of sixteenth-century princes to be vain, arrogant and ruthless.<br /><br />Alfonso would have read Machivelli--Cesare Borgia, whom many say was the model for Machiavelli's <i>The Prince</i>, was Alfonso's great-uncle. When you put Alfonso in his proper context, he is not a madman at all.<br /><br />Did he kill his first wife? Well, that would be a spoiler...Elizabeth Loupashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11529637737481928066noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19307003.post-13016560440661026742011-03-03T17:52:13.424-06:002011-03-03T17:52:13.424-06:00I'd say knowledge of the poem isn't a requ...I'd say knowledge of the poem isn't a requirement, though it does add a lot to the reading (and it's printed in the book, for those who want to flip back and forth - something I found myself doing often). It was a lot of fun to spot correspondences between the poem and the novel.Sarah Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13340312953393474963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19307003.post-36757685855983607422011-03-03T17:40:00.565-06:002011-03-03T17:40:00.565-06:00I don't know that I have read the poem - maybe...I don't know that I have read the poem - maybe it sounds vaguely familiar - I will have to go and look this up now! But anyway - I was interested in this book before but this interview has thrown some more hooks for me - I like that it has a mystery type plot. Thanks for this!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16609161113240681299noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19307003.post-54405891024206209492011-03-03T17:16:34.012-06:002011-03-03T17:16:34.012-06:00Really great interview--I'm hoping to have tim...Really great interview--I'm hoping to have time to scope out my local bookstore today for THE SECOND DUCHESS! (I might not be able to wait for San Diego...)Other Lisahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08079055348844157557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19307003.post-31118082473241327062011-03-03T16:52:35.740-06:002011-03-03T16:52:35.740-06:00What an enjoyable interview, thank you! I feel com...What an enjoyable interview, thank you! I feel compelled to go and re-read Browning's poem. Years ago, in the days when I regularly read poetry, he took a backseat to my interest in Elizabeth Barrett, but this inspires me to take a fresh look at Browning's work as well as pick up <i>The Second Duchess</i>.<br /><br />If Ms. Loupas is reading this, I would be interested in learning how writing this novel affected your perception of the Duke - whether you began to think of him differently or came to conclusions about him that you had not originally considered. And perhaps what the most rewarding perspective of writing this particular story was?Daniellehttp://romanticarmchairtraveller.typepad.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19307003.post-6342288540311144902011-03-03T16:45:07.111-06:002011-03-03T16:45:07.111-06:00That is indeed a gorgeous cover! I remember readin...That is indeed a gorgeous cover! I remember reading and analyzing Browning's poem in my AP English class. I really liked it, but I had no idea it was inspired by actual events. Now I want to read this novel.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02058600483996003142noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19307003.post-75880377770327222852011-03-03T11:18:54.700-06:002011-03-03T11:18:54.700-06:00I saw this on twitter so had to come on over and r...I saw this on twitter so had to come on over and read the interview :) The book is on my wishlistBlodeueddhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03435479623560871881noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19307003.post-78564562061286004472011-03-03T11:02:04.027-06:002011-03-03T11:02:04.027-06:00I have this book in the mail, on it's way to m...I have this book in the mail, on it's way to me -- I can't wait. Marvelous interview -- I'm doubly excited now!Audrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07511122937603890352noreply@blogger.com