The Glorious Ones

By Francine Prose

Book Overview

From the New York Times bestselling author of Reading Like a Writer and A Changed Man , an early novel about a theater troupe in 17th century Italy, republished to coincide with the opening of a Broadway musical inspired by the book The Glorious Ones travel the length and breadth of 17th-century Italy, playing commedia dell'arte in the streets and palaces with equal vigor. A small company of players founded by the ingenious madman Flamino Scala, they endure kidnappings, passionate affairs, cabals, riots, disgrace, and all manner of triumph and hardship. Pantalone the miser, sunny Armanda the dwarf, gossip-loving Columbina, and evil-minded Brighella view their myriad shared adventures through markedly different eyes. Yet not one of them is prepared for the strange twisting of the road brought about by the mysterious arrival of Isabella Andreini, who has come to direct their wayward troupe. In a beautiful new package, The Glorious Ones features musical tie-in cover art, as well as the original, beautiful interior designed by Harry Ford in 1974.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0061493848
• ISBN13: 9780061493843
• Release Date: October 2007
• Publisher: Harper Perennial
• Length: 192 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 5.5" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

Enjoyable

I read this after having seen the musical of the same name. It is a very enjoyable book, especially for anyone with a knowledge of Commedia dell'Arte and the stock characters that come from that tradition. Not my favorite, but worth a read. And the musical isn't bad either.