Stravaganza
Stravaganza is a series of novels by Mary Hoffman . The novel series begins with Stravaganza - City of Masks , continues with Stravaganza - City of Stars , Stravaganza - City of Flowers and Stravaganza - City of Mysteries .
Stravaganza - city of masks
Lucien Mullholland suffers from cancer and is hardly able to live an active life anymore, but lies in bed. One day his father finds a notebook that he is taking from a house that is about to be demolished. He gives this to his son so that he can write something in there if speaking is too strenuous for him. When Lucien falls asleep with the book in hand, he finds himself in Bellezza, a city reminiscent of the Venice of the 16th century. There is no longer any trace of his cancer, he even has his black curls back. In Bellezza he meets Arianna (a girl who comes from the island of Torone in the lagoon around Bellezza and who has made it into her head to become a mandolier, a kind of gondolier). What Lucien does not yet know at this point, however, is that he appeared in Bellezza at a point in time when only citizens born in the city are allowed to stay. A violation of this law is punishable by death. Arianna leads Lucien through the city and gives him the Talian name Luciano. Lucien later meets Signor Rodolfo, one of the Stravaganti. Stravaganti are time travelers like Lucien, who travel from the “normal” world to Talia, a kind of Italy of the 16th century, when dangerous events threaten. Stravaganti can be recognized by the lack of shadow in the other (her non-native) world. Rodolfo answers Lucien's questions, especially about the reason for his presence in Bellezza, and makes Dr. Dethrigde, who hailed from 16th century England and was sentenced to death for witchcraft in her old world and has lived in Talia ever since. Lucien is supposed to protect the Duchessa, who is threatened by Rinaldo di Chimici, an ambassador of the powerful city-state Remora. The goal of the di Chimici is to bring the previously independent city of Bellezza under Chimicini's rule. An attack is carried out on the Duchessa, but Lucien prevents it. The assassin was a Bellezzan who, however, as soon as he saw the Duchessa, could no longer kill her, was pardoned by the Duchessa and eventually became a mandolier. While Lucien goes on a trip to Venice with his parents, Arianna is imprisoned in Bellezza on Lucien's first day because of her illegal stay in Bellezza. In order to avert the threatened death penalty that hovers over Arianna, the Duchessa confesses that Arianna is her daughter, whom her sister raised on the island of Torrone for the protection of both of them, and that Arianna was born in Bellezza. Arianna's arrest warrant is overturned, and Lucien's arrest warrant too, under a pretext. Another attack on the Duchessa follows in the form of a bomb, which only kills the Duchessa's double, the assassin's fiancée. Since nobody knows about the double and everyone is of the opinion that the Duchessa is dead, she decides to end her life as a Duchessa and continue to live as a normal citizen, since she has been Duchessa for 25 years and now wants to enjoy her life. Few people know that the Duchessa is still alive, including Lucien and Rodolfo. Rodolfo proposes Arianna as the successor of the Duchessa, who wins the election against the candidate of the di Chimici and is now Duchessa von Bellezza. At the subsequent celebration, Lucien is captured by the informer Rinaldo di Chimicis and robbed of his notebook so that he can no longer go home. He is held in Bellezza until he appears to die in his world from the consequences of his brain tumor that has grown again and becomes a full citizen of Talia. At his funeral, Rodolfo visits Lucien's parents to express his regrets and brings Lucien a white rose from his own wreath of flowers, which from now on is his talisman with which he can travel to his old world. Dr. Dethridge, who now calls himself Guglielmo Crinamorte and wants to marry Arianna's aunt Leonora because he fell in love with her during his stay in Bellezza, takes Lucien, who is now finally called Luciano, as his foster son.
Stravaganza - city of stars
Georgia O'Grady lives in London and is bullied there by her stepbrother Russell. When she buys the figure of a winged horse in an antique shop and falls asleep with it in hand, she suddenly finds herself in Remora. There, in the district of Aries, because Remora is divided into twelve districts that correspond to the zodiac signs, a winged horse was recently born, which is seen as a good omen for the upcoming Stellata, an annual horse race, but has to be hidden there the other districts also want to have the good omen and the owners of the animal, the stable master Paolo and his son Cesare fear that the di Chimici might have it stolen. Georgia is disguised by them as the stable boy Giorgio Gredi, as she looks more like a boy with her short hair. Since the Aries district supports the city of Bellezza, Lucien and his foster father Dr. Dethridge to Remora. Lucien, Cesare and Georgia become friends there with the young di Chimici princes Falco and Gaetano. Falco, who had a riding accident at the age of ten and has not been able to walk properly since then, wants to know from the Stravaganti whether they can do something for his leg. When Georgia and Lucien inform him that this is not possible in Remora, Falco makes the decision to change to Georgia's world in order not to be deported to church by his father because of his leg. Merla, the winged horse of the ram, which is housed in Santa Fina, is stolen for the duke by the informer Enrico, who previously worked for Rinaldo and now for Niccolo di Chimici. Georgia brings Falco first to a test run and finally into her world, using her eyebrow ring as a talisman. Falco is given the name Nicholas Herzog in London and, because he pretends to have lost his memory, is brought to Lucien's parents, as Georgia takes violin lessons from Lucien's mother and finds that Vicky and David Mullholland need a son again. In Remora, Falco is found unconscious with a bottle of poison in his hand, so that everything points to a suicide, but Duke Niccolo believes the Stravaganti had something to do with his youngest son's comatose condition and threatens Lucien with consequences if Falco dies. Cesare, who is now training intensively for the Stellata, is kidnapped by Enrico to prevent the Aries from winning. When the disappearance of Cesare is discovered, Georgia is supposed to ride the Stellata. Cesare manages to escape on the day of the Stellata, but he knows that he will not make it in time. Meanwhile, Lucien has followed an inspiration to the stable in which Merla is being held and flies with her back to Remora, taking in the exhausted Cesare on the way. Georgia wins the race for the Aries because Cesare uses Merla to distract her opponents. Back home in London everyone worries about Georgia because she has been away for a long time. She can still deliver the news of her victory to Falco. However, Russell takes Georgia's horse the day after next and keeps it for a year so that she can no longer go to Remora, although only a month has passed there. At the commemorative race of Prince Falco's death, however, she reappears because she has found her talisman and Falco takes part in his own race on Merla because the doctors in England have straightened his crippled leg. The Duke, noticing that the rider on Merla has no shadow, vows to find out what the Stravaganti have to do with Falco's death.
Stravaganza - city of flowers
Political intrigue shook Giglia following the much-announced weddings of the di Chimici family. Sky also has to find out, who has led his first stravaganza to a Dominican monastery. This is responsible for the production of precious perfumes and medicines. But in some bottles there is no medicine, but deadly poison! Together with Lucien, Arianna, Georgia and Falco, Sky has to decide the last power game that spans two worlds and times. At the wedding, however, there is a terrible attack on the four grooms, one dies and two are seriously injured. The Duchessa would also have been seriously injured if she hadn't exchanged clothes with her maid, Barbara. Meanwhile, Grand Duke Niccolo di Chimici proposes marriage to Duchessa Arianna. But if Arianna accepts, Belleza would fall into the hands of the Chimici, something that Silvia and her predecessors always tried to prevent. Nevertheless, Silvia advocates a wedding with Niccolo di Chimici. But Arianna rejects the application because she has long since given her heart to Lucien. She also informs Niccolo of this. Because of this, out of hurt pride and jealousy, Luciano calls on a duel. Everything points to a victory for the Grand Duke. Niccolo had one of the swords poisoned so that he can kill Lucien more easily, but Enrico swaps swords at the last second and Falco brings his father out of concentration, which gives Lucien the opportunity to strike. Grand Duke Niccolo dies because of the poison in which Lucien's sword was dipped. Fabrizio di Chimici becomes the new Grand Duke of Tuchia.
In the end, Silvia and Rodolfo marry a second time so that they can finally live together as a couple. In the last scene, Lucien confesses his feelings to Arianna and makes her a marriage proposal, which she accepts, beaming with joy.
Stravaganza - city of secrets
The fourth part of the book series was published in Germany in August 2008. The action takes place in Padavia, where Luciano studies and at the same time hides from Fabrizio di Chimici, who wants to avenge his father's death. Arianna visits Luciano there disguised as a boy. The book covers the adventures of Luciano and Arianna and another new stravagant named Matt. He is dyslexic and his talisman is a leather-bound book.
In addition to the "old" Stravaganti Georgia, Nick Herzog (formerly Falco di Chimici) and Sky from the previous books, Cesare Montalbano, Guido Parola, Enrico Poggi and the antique dealer Mortimer Goldsmith reappear. In addition, Gaetano and Fabrizio (formerly Luca) di Chimici as well as their wives Francesca and Caterina di Chimici and her sister Beatrice are again part of the party.
Sequels
The sequel "Stravaganza - City of Ships" is not published in German for the time being, the publisher in question has confirmed this. The series is not yet over and there is no end in sight. According to the author, there are twelve cities in Talia and she "could write a novel about each one". Meanwhile there is also the sequel "City of Swords".
characters
The characters from the City of Masks
Lucien Mulholland / Luciano Crinamorte
Lucien lives in London and has cancer. When he receives a beautiful notebook, it turns out to be a talisman that takes him to Talia every time he falls asleep - a 16th-century Italian version in a parallel world. So he suddenly finds himself in Bellezza - a Talian city that resembles Venice. There he goes on a series of adventures with Arianna, his new girlfriend. However, due to a prolonged imprisonment, he dies in his world and thus becomes a Bellezzan. Lucien is led by Dr. Dethridge and his wife Leonora adopted, making Lucien Mulholland Luciano Crinamorte.
Arianna Maddalena Rossi
The stubborn girl desperately wants to become a mandolier and breaks a law by Bellezza, which forbids all people who were not born there to stay in the city on the Forbidden Day. Since she is from the island of Torrone and is caught, she is arrested. But later it turns out that she was probably born in Bellezza, better: She is even the daughter of Duchessa Silvia and her secret husband Rodolfo Rossi! She also tells her the secret of her birth and thus escapes conviction. She later becomes Duchessa von Bellezza and fiancée of Luciano (= Lucien).
Rodolfo Claudio Rossi
The senator is the closest confidante of the Duchessa, whom he also loves. He is the mentor of Lucien, whom he initiates into the difficult art of Stravaganza. He is also the father of Arianna, which he only finds out when Silvia (the Duchessa) is supposedly dead. He later becomes Arianna's regent.
La Duchessa Silvia Isabella Bellini
Silvia came to the throne at the age of 20 and has ruled for 25 years. After a series of lovers, she fell in love with Rodolfo, from whom she had a child, Arianna. However, she kept it from him and the rest of the world to guarantee Arianna's safety. She can avoid two assassinations, but since she supposedly does not survive the second (instead of Silvia her doppelganger, who is also the fiancée Enricos, who murdered the alleged Duchessa, is met. Enrico has thus killed his own fiancée), catches her new life as a rich widow and lives in Padavia. But she visits her family, Arianna and Rodolfo, often.
Dr. William Dethridge / Guglielmo Crinamorte
The founder of Stravaganza fled to Bellona when he was sentenced to death by fire for witchcraft in his world. He comes to Bellezza to help Rodolfo and Lucien. He falls in love with Arianna's aunt Leonora, and both later married. The couple adopt Lucien when he dies in his world and is now "trapped" in Talia.
Rinaldo di Chimici
The Remorian ambassador wants to kill the Duchessa in order to put Bellezza (the only town in the north of Talia that is not ruled by the Chimici) into the hands of his family. When an assassination attempt supposedly succeeds, he wants to make his cousin Francesca Duchessa, which is thwarted by the election of Arianna.
Enrico Poggi
Enrico is a spy for Rinaldo di Chimici. It is he who carries out the fatal assassination attempt on the supposed Duchessa. Unsuspecting, he instead murders his own fiancée, Giuliana. With the kidnapping of Lucien, he also causes Lucien's death in his world, making Luciano forever "Luciano", a Bellezzaner and foster son of Leonora and Giuliemo Crinamorte.
Figures from the City of Stars
Georgia O'Grady
Georgia lives in London and is bullied there by her stepbrother Russell. When she buys a figure of a winged horse in an antique shop and falls asleep with it in hand, she finds herself in Remora. There she has to pretend to be a boy (because of her short hair) and her name is Georgio. She helps the Aries district to win the Stellata and to switch Prince Falco di Chimici, who has a crippled leg, to her world so that the doctors can cure him. Later he becomes the adopted son of Lucien's parents and is called Nicholas Herzog. Plus, despite the age difference, Georgia begins a relationship with him.
Falco di Chimici / Nicholas Herzog
Falco is the youngest son of Duke Niccolo di Chimici. His leg has been crippled since a riding accident and his father wants to deport him to church office. With the help of Georgia, he transfigured into her world, where he lived with Lucien's parents and the doctors cured him. Together with Georgia and Sky, he helps to kill his own father in a duel with Luciano before he kills Luciano and to protect the Stravaganti from his power-hungry family. His older brother Fabrizio (Luca) then becomes Grand Duke.
Mortimer Goldsmith
Mortimer Goldsmith owns an antique shop in London. Georgia and Matt buy their talismans there, but without realizing that they can bring them to Talia. Mr. Goldsmith is very kind as he both sells Georgia the winged horse for less and accepts a book voucher from Matt in exchange for the book.
Figures from the City of Flowers
Sky Meadows
Sky lives in London with his mother. His father is a black rock star and his mother has had CFS for several years, so Sky has to take care of her. One day he finds a blue perfume bottle on his doorstep that takes him to Giglia, where he and the other Stravaganti are supposed to ensure the safety of visitors to the di Chimici's weddings.
Figures from City of Secrets
Matthew Wood
Matt is dyslexic. Even so, he buys an old book at Mr. Goldsmith's antique shop, strangely fascinated by it. When he falls asleep with the book in hand, he wakes up in Padavia. There he helps in Constantin's print shop to produce secret books and to keep the art of Stravaganza a secret from the di Chimici.
Importance of Italian cities
- Bellezza ( Venice ): city of masks
- Remora ( Siena ): City of Stars
- Giglia ( Florence ): city of flowers
- Padavia ( Padua ): city of secrets / books / words
- Montemurato ( Monteriggioni ): city of towers
- Volana ( Ferrara ): city of music
- Bellona ( Bologna ): city of dreams
- Fortezza ( Lucca ): city of swords
- Classe ( Ravenna ): City of Ships
- Moresco ( Pisa ): City of the Mermaids
- Romula ( Rome ): City of Dragons
- Cittanuova ( Naples ): City of Fire
Web links
- Book series website (archived version, English)
- Forum for the book series ( co-initiated by the author )
Individual evidence
- ↑ Hoffman, Mary: Stravaganza - City of Masks . tape 1 . Arena Verlag GmbH, Würzburg 2003, ISBN 978-3-401-05976-1 , p. 345 .