Valperga by Mary Shelley (1851)

Name: Valperga
Author: Mary Shelley

Valperga is a historical novel by Mary Shelley, first published in 1823. It is set in the late 14th century in the Italian city-states of Florence and Pisa. The story follows the fortunes of Castruccio Castracani, a young man of humble origins who rises to become the ruler of Lucca. Castruccio is a brilliant military strategist and a passionate lover of freedom, but his ambition and pride lead him to make enemies of the powerful Medici family of Florence. The novel follows Castruccio's struggles to maintain his independence and his love for the beautiful Euthanasia, a woman of noble birth. As his enemies close in, Castruccio must choose between his love for Euthanasia and his loyalty to his people. Valperga is a sweeping tale of love, ambition, and political intrigue, set against the backdrop of medieval Italy. It is a classic of Romantic literature and a powerful exploration of the human capacity for both greatness and destruction.

By Mary Shelley · First published 1851 · Genre: Romantic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Fantasy · 39 chapters · 156,630 words

First lines

THE accounts of the Life of Castruccio known in England, are generally taken from Macchiavelli's romance concerning this chief. The reader may find a detail of his real adventures in Sismondi's delightful publication, Histoire des Republiques Italiennes de L'Age Moyen. In addition to this work, I have consulted Tegrino's Life of Castruccio, and Giovanni Villani's Florentine Annals.

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Valperga is listed on Textopian as a novel by Mary Shelley, dated 1851 CE.

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Work type: Novel
Author: Mary Shelley
Date: 1851 CE
Language: English
Genres: Romantic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Fantasy
Length: 156,630 words
Structure: 39 chapters, 4,880 paragraphs
Reading fit: Difficult (College Level)

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Genres

Romantic Fiction — Valperga is a novel by Mary Shelley, a prominent figure in the Romantic Movement. The novel follows the story of Euthanasia, a young woman who is forced to make difficult decisions in order to protect her family and her kingdom. The novel is full of romantic themes such as love, loyalty, and courage, and Shelley's writing style is heavily influenced by the Romantic Movement.
Historical Fiction — Valperga is set in the 14th century in Italy, and the novel follows the story of Euthanasia, a young woman who is forced to make difficult decisions in order to protect her family and her kingdom. The novel is full of historical details and references, and Shelley's writing style is heavily influenced by the historical context of the novel.
Fantasy — Valperga contains elements of fantasy, such as magical creatures and supernatural events. The novel follows the story of Euthanasia, a young woman who is forced to make difficult decisions in order to protect her family and her kingdom. Shelley's writing style is heavily influenced by the fantasy genre, and the novel contains many elements of fantasy.