The Nuns of Sant'Ambrogio: The True Story of a Convent in Scandal
Read The Nuns of Sant'Ambrogio: The True Story of a Convent in Scandal Online
Authors: Hubert Wolf
This work has been supported by a one-year research residency at the Historisches Kolleg in Munich. The Historisches Kolleg is financed by the Free State of Bavaria. The research stipend was provided by the Fritz Thyssen Foundation.
The translation of this work was funded by Geisteswissenschaften International—Translation Funding for Humanities and Social Sciences from Germany, a joint initiative of the Fritz Thyssen Foundation, the German Federal Foreign Office, the collecting society VG WORT, and the Börsenverein des Deutschen Buchhandels (German Publishers & Booksellers Association).
THIS IS A BORZOI BOOK
PUBLISHED BY ALFRED A. KNOPF
Translation copyright © Alfred A. Knopf
All rights reserved. Published in the United States by Alfred A. Knopf, a division of Random House LLC, New York, and in Canada by Random House of Canada Limited, Toronto, Penguin Random House companies. Originally published in Germany as
Die Nonnen von Sant’Ambrogio
, 3rd ed. by Hubert Wolf, München, in 2013. Copyright © 2013 by Verlag C. H. Beck oHG.
Knopf, Borzoi Books, and the colophon are registered trademarks of Random House LLC.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Wolf, Hubert.
[Nonnen von Sant’Ambrogio. English]
The nuns of Sant’Ambrogio : the true story of a convent in scandal / Hubert Wolf; translated
by Ruth Martin.—First United States Edition.
pages cm
ISBN 978-0-385-35190-4 (hardover)
ISBN 978-0-385-35192-8 (eBook)
Includes bibliographical references.
1. Sant’Ambrogio della Massima (Monastery : Rome, Italy). 2. Nuns—Italy—Rome—History. 3. Convents—Italy—
Rome—History. 4. Scandals—Italy—Rome—History. 5. Catholic Church—Italy—
Rome—History. 6. Monasteries—Italy—Rome—History. I. Title.
BX4220.I8W6513 2014
271′.973045632—dc23 2014001625
Front-of-jacket photograph:
Sad Memories
by Amerino Cagnoni, 1984 (detail).
De Agostini Picture Library/The Bridgeman Art Library
Jacket design by Kelly Blair
v3.1
PRINCESS KATHARINA VON HOHENZOLLERN-SIGMARINGEN
A German aristocrat. Spends fifteen months as the novice Luisa Maria in the convent of Sant’Ambrogio, where her knowledge of convent secrets puts her life in danger.
GUSTAV ADOLF ZU HOHENLOHE-SCHILLINGSFÜRST
The titular archbishop of Edessa and a confidant of Pope Pius IX. Also Katharina’s cousin and her savior.
MARIA AGNESE FIRRAO
Founder of the convent, whose inhabitants honor her as a saint. Convicted by the Holy Office of false holiness.
MARIA LUISA
The convent’s beautiful young novice mistress and madre vicaria. Has visions and is regarded as a saint.
MARIA VERONICA
Abbess of Sant’Ambrogio, thanks to Maria Luisa.
LUIGI FRANCESCHETTI
The lawyer responsible for the convent’s legal affairs.
AGNESE ELETTA
The niece of Agnese Firrao, a nun who shares Maria Luisa’s bed.
MARIA GIACINTA
Franceschetti’s sister, a nun who also shares Maria Luisa’s bed.
AGNESE CELESTE
A novice and a doctor’s daughter, who knows about medicines and poisons.