Barbara An Affair of State
BARBARA AN AFFAIR OF STATE
Translated from Italian by Edward Smith
The book presents the true story of Barbara Campanini—ballerina, diva, countess. She revolutionised ballet and filled the theatres and gossip pages of the eighteenth century, earning enormous sums of money. But, in 1743-44, she demanded the freedom to love a nobleman. Her determination triggered an affair of State that involved Berlin, Vienna, Paris and London, with Venice at the centre of an incredible diplomatic incident. An independent woman from the Italian provinces, she conquered Europe, knew great love—and lost it. Between scandals and success, her activities became the increasing concern of sovereigns and their ambassadors. Barbara Campanini’s story is told here, for the first time letting previously unpublished archival papers and documents speak for themselves, as true eighteenth century reportage.
Andrea Perego is a journalist, writer and archivist. With Supernova he has previously published the short story collection Red Moons and Cornflowers, Casanova in Berlin (also in Italian, French and German: Casanova a Berlino, Casanova à Berlin, Casanova und Berlin) and the novel The Laws of Time.
