An edition of Virgins of Venice (2002)

Virgins of Venice

Broken Vows and Cloistered Lives in the Renaissance Convent

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Last edited by MARC Bot
December 17, 2024 | History
An edition of Virgins of Venice (2002)

Virgins of Venice

Broken Vows and Cloistered Lives in the Renaissance Convent

  • 4 Want to read

"Venice in the late Renaissance was a city of fabulous wealth, reckless creativity, and growing social unrest as its maritime empire crumbled. It was also a city of walls and secrets, ghettos and cloisters - including fifty convents housing three thousand nuns, many of them refined, upper-class women who had been immured against their will. In this utterly fascinating book, Cambridge historian Mary Lavan uncovers the long-hidden stories of the "Virgins of Venice" and the secret, often surprising, lives they led." "Sifting through records kept during the Counter-Reformation, Laven has created a detailed and dramatic tapestry of resourceful, determined, often passionate women who managed to lead fulfilling lives despite their virtual imprisonment. Far from being precincts of piety and silence, the convents of Venice were hotbeds of political scheming, colorful pageantry, gorgeous decoration, and illicit love affairs. One nun was so determined to sleep with her lover that she painstakingly chipped a hole in a stone wall so he could climb through under cover of night. Another expressed her individuality through obsessive gift giving while keeping records of the dangerous flirtations going on around her. Still others exercised considerable clandestine power in the dangerous game of Venetian politics."--Jacket.

Publish Date
Publisher
Viking Adult
Language
English
Pages
320

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Previews available in: English

Edition Availability
Cover of: Virgins of Venice
Virgins of Venice: Broken Vows and Cloistered Lives in the Renaissance Convent
June 29, 2004, Penguin (Non-Classics)
in English
Cover of: Virgins of Venice
Virgins of Venice
July 31, 2003, Penguin Books Ltd, Penguin
Cover of: Virgins of Venice
Virgins of Venice: Broken Vows and Cloistered Lives in the Renaissance Convent
March 10, 2003, Viking Adult
Hardcover in English
Cover of: Virgins of Venice
Virgins of Venice
April 7, 2002, Viking
Hardcover
Cover of: Virgins of Venice
Virgins of Venice: Enclosed Lives and Broken Vows in the Renaissance Convent
October 31, 2002, Penguin Books Ltd
Paperback

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Book Details


First Sentence

"TO THE SOUND OF THE ORGAN, a procession of clerics files into the church, ushering in Cardinal Francesco Vendramin, successor to Matteo Zane as patriarch of Venice."

Classifications

Library of Congress
BX4220.I8 L38 2003, BX4220.I8L38 2003

The Physical Object

Format
Hardcover
Number of pages
320
Dimensions
8.7 x 5.1 x 0.8 inches
Weight
1 pounds

ID Numbers

Open Library
OL7641211M
Internet Archive
virginsofveniceb0000lave
ISBN 10
0670031836
ISBN 13
9780670031832
LCCN
2002034924
OCLC/WorldCat
50684319
Library Thing
184248
Goodreads
1131985

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History

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December 17, 2024 Edited by MARC Bot import existing book
June 8, 2023 Edited by ImportBot import existing book
December 17, 2022 Edited by ImportBot import existing book
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December 10, 2009 Created by WorkBot add works page