Rienzi, the Last of the Roman Tribunes (Bulwer-Lytton)

Overview

Historical novel (1835) by Edward Bulwer-Lytton about Cola di Rienzo (c.1313–1354), the notary who made himself tribune of the people in Rome, tried to restore the city's ancient greatness, fell, returned to power and was killed by a Roman mob. Wagner's opera Rienzi (1842) is based on it (Wikipedia, "Rienzi, the Last of the Roman Tribunes"; "Rienzi").

Relevance to Marie

On 15 July 1876 Marie copies in English a passage on the truly great man who despises the crowd and shines alone «conscious of its own glory» (063.0332; text and Gutenberg check in the footnote there). Two days later, excited by the somnambule's talk of a «conspirateur», she compares Pietro Antonelli «à Rienzi» (063.0443): the Roman tribune of the novel, not Wagner's opera. Her plan of the same evening, to restore Rome's «royauté du monde» (063.0451), echoes Rienzi's programme.

The 1877 Florence performance of Wagner's opera (071, 1877-05-01) is tagged under #Wagner, not here.

References in Diary

• 1876-07-15 (063.0332)
• 1876-07-17 (063.0443)

See also #Bulwer.