Römerinnen: Zwei Novellen

The story opens on a glittering spring night in 1829, when Rome’s aristocracy throws a lavish ball at the Palazzo Torlonia. Amid the glittering foreign beauties, a dark‑haired young woman named Vanina commands every glance; her fierce eyes and haughty bearing set her apart from the courtly crowd. As princes and gentlemen vie for her attention, she remains aloof, amused by their rehearsed gestures and secretly bored by the glittering façade.

Beneath the splendor, Vanina’s father, Prince Asdrubale, pressures her into a marriage that suits his ambitions, while the city buzzes with stories of a daring carbonaro who has just escaped capture. Intrigued by the rebel’s boldness, Vanina begins to explore a hidden wing of the palace, where an open window offers a view of orange trees and the promise of a world beyond aristocratic duty. The tale weaves her personal defiance with the stirring undercurrents of political unrest, hinting at a clash between passion and power.