Coming September 16 from Bellevue Literary Press: Maria La Divina by Jerome Charyn.
About the book, from the publisher:
An intimate portrait of the world’s most iconic opera singerVisit Jerome Charyn's website.
Maria Callas, called La Divina, is widely recognized as the greatest diva who ever lived. Jerome Charyn’s Callas springs to life as the headstrong, mercurial, and charismatic artist who captivated generations of fans, thrilling audiences with her brilliant performances and defiant personality.
Callas, an outsider from an impoverished background, was shunned by the Italian opera houses, but through sheer force of will and the power and range of her voice, she broke through the invisible wall to sing at La Scala and headline at the Metropolitan Opera, forging an unforgettable career. Adored by celebrities and statesmen, the notable and notorious alike, her every movement was shadowed by both music critics and gossip columnists—until, having lost her voice, she died alone in an opulent, mausoleum-like Paris apartment.
In Charyn’s inimitable style, Maria La Divina humanizes the celebrated diva, revealing the mythical artist as a woman who survived hunger, war, and loneliness to reach the heights of acclaim.
The Page 69 Test: Under the Eye of God.
My Book, The Movie: Big Red.
Q&A with Jerome Charyn.
The Page 69 Test: Ravage & Son.
Writers Read: Jerome Charyn (August 2023).
--Marshal Zeringue