Questions Most Commonly Asked by Students and Others

Below are questions students have often asked me about The Queen’s Soprano. Be sure to also visit the photo gallery with pictures of characters from the book and scenes of Rome from the 1600s.

Which characters really existed in the book?

Most of the main characters in the book were based on real people, although their characters are highly fictionalized. Angelica and her family – her sister and two brothers, Georgino and Caterina -- existed but were entirely fictionalized. Queen Christina, Cardinal Azzolino, Jean Theodon, Flavio, Duke of Mantua, ArcAngelo Corelli, Alessandro Scarlatti, Portia, Marriuccia, and Octavia were characters based on real people. Lucia, the servant, was invented.

How did I discover Angelica?

I read several biographies of Queen Christina, and I kept reading accounts of Angelica Voglia, who lived in the Queen’s palace towards the end of the Queen’s life. Several of the biographies mentioned that Angelica became her favorite soprano. I was also fascinated by the references to Angelica’s amazing voice, and also to her background – Angelica was from a modest family, so it was a great achievement that she learned to read music and play instruments. Even more surprising was her rise to fame, at a time when girls mostly silenced.

How much of Angelica’s life in the book is fact and how much is fiction?

The major events in the book are documented in published diaries, biographies and pamphlets (published newsletters from the 1600’s). But the way the events happened are largely embellished. For instance, there are many accounts of the Duke of Mantua going to Georgino’s workshop and mutilating him and his eldest son, after Angelica refused to go north with the Duke. But the way I told this incident was based on my own imagination. Another example is the Spanish Cardinal who became enamored with Angelica. Many books mention that a shipment of silver was stolen because the Cardinal was sitting in the piazza listening to Angelica rehearse instead of going to meet the shipment at the docks. There are also accounts that the following day posters were placed on the Cardinal’s gates, mocking him for his behavior. Again, most of the incidents in the novel happened, but I used my own imagination to embellish them.

Why did I choose to write about Angelica?

Much is written about the nobles and royalty of this period, so I loved the idea of a girl from the lower classes who, despite all odds, found a way to use her talent and rise in the social hierarchy.

What happened to Angelica?

There are references in to her moving to Madrid with the Spanish ambassador and marrying a noble in his court.

What was the most difficult aspect of writing this novel?

This particular period was very complicated politically because there were so many factions vying for control of Rome. It was difficult to show the history without having it intrude too much on the story.

Will there be a sequel?

No, I prefer to let Angelica’s story end in Rome.

How did I do my research?

Because very little is written about girls from the lower classes during this period, most of my research was done by reading books and diaries about Queen Christina’s court, books about Baroque music, palace life, and the everyday life of neighborhoods in Rome during this period. Living in Rome, I was also able to visit all the churches and museums and neighborhoods where Angelica lived.