Italian Letters of a Diplomat's Wife: January-May, 1880; February-April, 1904

A series of intimate letters written by the wife of a French diplomat transports listeners to the heart of Rome at the turn of the century. In the first half, she recounts a hurried departure from Paris after her husband resigns as premier, and their winter retreat in the Italian capital during 1880. Her observations capture the contrast between the grand halls of diplomacy and the modest, doll‑house hotel she now calls home, while offering lively sketches of the city’s cafés, the frozen Seine, and the bustling social scene of aristocrats, clergy, and artists.

The second set, penned two decades later, revisits Rome after her husband’s death, revealing how the city’s timeless beauty and its evolving society continue to fascinate her. Illustrated with period photographs and drawings, the letters blend personal anecdotes with vivid descriptions of landmarks, royal visits, and everyday rituals, giving listeners a nuanced portrait of Italian life that feels both historic and remarkably immediate.