Niccolò de' Lapi

Overview

Niccolò de' Lapi, ovvero i Palleschi e i Piagnoni is a historical novel by Massimo d'Azeglio, published in 1841. Set during the 1530 Siege of Florence, it follows an elderly silk merchant caught between rival Florentine factions — the Piagnoni (Savonarola nostalgists) and the Palleschi (Medici supporters).

Relevance to Marie

On 1 October 1875, Marie's Italian companion Sabatini reads this novel to her on a bench on the Promenade des Anglais while she secretly observes Gioia's movements. The choice of Italian patriotic literature reflects Marie's Italian language studies and her cultural interests.

Historical Context

D'Azeglio (1798-1866) was an Italian painter, novelist, and statesman who served as Prime Minister of Sardinia (1849-1852). His historical novels, including Ettore Fieramosca (1833) and Niccolò de' Lapi, were inspired by Walter Scott and aimed to awaken Italian national feeling against foreign domination.

References in Diary

• First mentioned: 1875-10-01 (carnet 045)