The Mystery of "The Duchess of Malfi"

John Webster's play, "The Duchess of Malfi", was first published in 1623. But what is the truth behind the tragic story of the woman whose Cardinal brother takes savage revenge when he discovers her secret marriage to a courtier, and then himself goes mad? This book explores the intriguing exploits of the real Duchess of Malfi, Giovanna d'Aragona, against the background of renaissance Italy. It describes her life, which was one of tragedy: her father was poisoned and died just as she was born in 1478, her first child died in infancy and her first husband, the Duke of Amalfi, died young, leaving her a widow at 20. She gave birth to a posthumous heir and dedicated herself to his care and the estate that would one day be his. Like her fictional counterpart, she then married a young courtier, defying her family who would have undoubtedly denied permission for her to wed a man not of royal blood. According to the author, it was her Cardinal brother's ambitions that precipitated the tragedy and, like his sister's disappearance, his own death is cloaked in mystery. As well as describing Giovanna herself, this book explores the characters who populate Amalfi: the famous Gonzagas of Mantua (who feature in Shakespeare's plays), and the compelling story of the real brother, Luigi.