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Secretum: An Atto Melani Novel
Author(s): Rita Monaldi (Author), Francesco Sorti (Author)
- Publisher: Polygon An Imprint of Birlinn Limited
- Publication Date: 6 Aug. 2009
- Edition: First Edition
- Language: English
- Print length: 736 pages
- ISBN-10: 1846971047
- ISBN-13: 9781846971044
Book Description
July, 1700, Rome. Atto Melani – once a celebrated castrato soprano, now a spy in the service of King Louis XIV, the Sun King – mingles with other high-ranking guests at the villa of Cardinal Spada. Despite being there to celebrate the Cardinal’s nephew’s wedding, the main topic of conversation is the grave illness of the Pope and the approaching demise of Charles II, King of Spain. Charles has no heir and Kaiser Leopold of Austria and King Louis are each demanding the throne, with the Vatican supposedly mediating. Keen to promote his master’s cause, Melani sets in motion a grandiose conspiracy that will plunge him into a world of secret languages, religious sects, forged Royal wills and Europe into war.
Editorial Reviews
Review
Monaldi & Sorti are exceptional authors. Like Alexandre Dumas, they have mastered the art of giving the proper reverence to Madame History. –Le Figaro
Nothing is as it seems in the Rome of Monaldi & Sorti. Based on years of research, their mysteries are ingeniously conceived and voluptuously written, keeping readers breathless in the suspense. What’s their secret? Monaldi & Sorti are brilliant! –De Morgen
I was completely carried away by Secretum. You will cling to the pages! An opulent, powerful historical masterpiece. –Bild am Sonntag
About the Author
Rita Monaldi is an expert in religious history, her husband Francesco Sorti a musicologist. Both have worked as journalists, but in recent years they have collaborated on several historical novels including ‘Imprimatur’ and its sequels ‘Secretum’ and ‘Veritas’. They live with their two young children in Vienna and Rome.
