The Queen's Soprano [Paperback]

Carol Dines (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 2007

Seventeen-year-old Angelica Voglia loves to sing. But she lives in seventeenth-century Rome, and the pope has forbidden women to sing in public. To make matters worse, her controlling mother is determined to marry her off to a wealthy nobleman, even though Angelica is in love with a poor French artist. Angelica's only hope to sing before an audience--and escape a forced marriage--is to flee to Queen Christina's court, where she will become the queen's soprano. But she soon discovers that the palace walls are not completely secure . . . and her freedom will require an even greater sacrifice than she imagined.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 9 Up This novel, inspired by the life of a real court singer in late-17th-century Rome, re-creates a time under Pope Innocent XI when women were not allowed to sing in public. Angelica was born into a modest tradesman's home with a magnificent gift a beautiful voice that she can only exercise in the privacy of her home or a convent. Admirers from artisans to cardinals line up outside her house to listen to her practice. Her mother intends to use the girl's gift to secure her a wealthy husband and raise the family's status. Romance blossoms as a young French artist falls in love with the teen and the two begin an innocent exchange of drawings and notes through a servant girl. Angelica's voice grows with passion as she sings to Theodon through closed shutters. To avoid her mother's entrapping marriage plans, Angelica runs away to join the court of Queen Christina, a Swedish queen who converted to Catholicism and rules a quarter of Rome, where she defies the pope by allowing women to perform. As long as the Queen lives, her ladies are safe, but when her death is imminent, each one must plot her way to safety from the pope's guards. A slice of courtly life tinged with sexual misconduct by clerics, betrayal by Angelica's mother, and heartbreaking sorrow, this tale will appeal to female readers, who will admire the young woman's steadfast devotion against tremendous odds. Kathy Lehman, Thomas Dale High School Library, Chester, VA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Booklist

Gr. 9-12. Like Louise Hawes' The Vanishing Point (2004), inspired by Renaissance painter Lavinia Fontana, Dines' first historical novel features another female artist straining against cultural expectations of a bygone Italy. Angelica Voglia, a real figure whose historical milieu and scant biography are addressed in a foreword and endnote, has a "miracle voice"--or is it the "devil's breath"? Her gift for singing exposes her to numerous threats: a manipulative, social-climbing mother; noblemen who see her public displays as an invitation to take liberties (and worse); and an austere papacy that persecutes women who sing in public. Eventually Angelica seeks refuge in the bohemian court of an expatriate Swedish regent, a path that Dines portrays not as an idealized salvation but one fraught with pitfalls. Angelica's personal story (especially her romance with a lowborn sculptor) is frequently eclipsed by details about her charismatic protectress and baroque-era Roman politics. But persistent readers, inspired by Angelica's determination to "look into [her] heart and speak the truths [she finds] there," should find sufficient motivation to sift through the overzealous historical context. Jennifer Mattson
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 14 and up
  
• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Graphia (August 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0152061029
• ISBN-13: 978-0152061029
• Product Dimensions: 7.1 x 4.8 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,422,120 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #32 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > History & Historical Fiction > Fiction > Renaissance

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Courtesy of Teens Read Too, August 26, 2007

By 

TeensReadToo "Eat. Drink. Read. Be Merrier." (All Over the US & Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Queen's Soprano (Paperback)

It was the cover of the book that first got my attention. The girl on the cover of THE QUEEN'S SOPRANO was wearing a beautiful gown fit for royalty. Little did I know at the time that this book was a fictionalized account of Angelica Voglia, who became Queen Christina's soprano during the time of Pope Innocent XI.

All Angelica wants to do is sing, but the pope has forbidden women to sing in public. Angelica has a voice that was able to bring people to their knees weeping. People come from all over Rome to stand beneath her window to hear her sing. She had many suiters, all arranged by her mother, but the one she was interested in was a poor but talented French artist, Jean Theodon. Jean courts her in secrecy, exchanging messages and drawings with her via the servant girl that works for her family.

Her mother, though, has other ideas. She plans on giving Angelica up to the highest bidder on the hopes that the family's status will be elevated. Angelica's determined to sing and realizes that the only way to do that before an audience and escape a forced marriage arranged by her controlling mother is to flee to Queen Christina's court, where she will become the queen's soprano.

Dines tells Angelica's story beautifully. The characters are all richly developed. I was really able to feel Angelica's determination to accomplish her goals despite the odds stacked against her. Of course there is more to the story, but you will have to read the book to find out what else happens.

I will tell you, though, that the rest of the story is filled with romance, betrayal, death, intrigue, and action. The book will keep your attention until the very end. If you are a historical fiction fan then this is a book that you should place on your list of must-reads. Definitely recommended!!

Reviewed by: coollibrarianchick

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Historical Novel I've Read in Ages!, January 8, 2007

By 

Charlotte K. Howard - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Queen's Soprano (Hardcover)

After slogging through those Phillipa Gregory novels (found them quite anachronistic in terms of the female characters' advanced feminism), "The Queen's Soprano" struck me as much more realistic in imagining the motives & plights of the characters. Dines does a great job of using historical information on economic/social class & religion to firmly ground the story. The singer's naive ideas of romantic love, the reactions of other women to attempted rape, the mother's treachery, the complex schemes of various church institutions--these situations felt authentic, and not merely story devices for imparting 20th Century ideology. I'm not sure why this book would only be targeted to teens. It is an engrossing read for adults as well, and generated enough interest on my part to do further reading about Rome during the time of Queen Christina's presence. I look forward to a sequel.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A touching story, beautifully told, August 4, 2009

By 

Sarah Bruce Kelly "Author of VIVALDI'S MUSE, ... - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Queen's Soprano (Paperback)

The beautiful interweaving of a young girl's family angst, romantic dreams, and musical ambitions is deftly handled in this gripping novel. The author imagines the life of Angelica Voglia in such a vivid and touching way, I felt completely drawn into her world.

The believable characters, engaging dialogue, and rich historical details make this delightful story a real treat for the senses. Angelica's determination to rise above her circumstances and follow her heart should be an inspiration for all young readers.

Sarah Bruce Kelly
Author of THE RED PRIEST'S ANNINA