The flower beneath the foot : being a record of the early life of St. Laura de Nazianzi and the times in which she lived

In a sumptuous court where lavish tapestries, glittering jewels, and whispered wagers fill the air, a young Laura wrestles with a restless spirit that refuses to be shaped by expectation. Her own confession—“Some girls are born organically good: I wasn’t”—sets a frank, intimate tone, while the surrounding intrigue of queens, countesses, and distant monarchs frames a world of opulence and subtle power plays. The narrative opens on a summer‑palace teeming with elaborate ceremony, yet Laura’s inner dialogue hints at a deeper quest beyond the glittering façade.

Through vivid, almost theatrical scenes, the story follows Laura’s early attempts to subdue her ego and discover purpose amid the pageantry. As she listens to a maid recite lofty maxims and navigates the tense conversations of courtly ladies, the listener catches the first stirrings of a spiritual awakening that will carry her beyond the palace walls. The first act offers a richly textured portrait of a young woman poised on the cusp of transformation, inviting listeners to join her journey from worldly splendor toward a higher calling.