From the author of the Inspector Montalbano series comes the remarkable account of an exceptional woman who rises to power in 17th century Sicily and brings about sweeping changes that threaten the iron-fisted patriarchy, before being cast out in a coup after only 27 days.

Sicily, April 16 1677. From his deathbed, Charles III's viceroy, Anielo de Guzmán y Carafa, marquis of Castle Rodrigo, names his wife, Doña Eleonora, as his successor. Eleonora de Moura is a highly intelligent and capable woman who immediately applies her political acumen to heal the scarred soul of Palermo, a city afflicted by poverty, misery, and the frequent uprisings they entail.

The Marquise implements measures that include lowering the price of bread, reducing taxes for large families, re-opening women's care facilities, and establishing stipends for young couples wishing to marry—all measures that were considered seditious by the conservative city fathers and by the Church. The machinations of powerful men soon result in Doña Eleonora, whom the Church sees as a dangerous revolutionary, being recalled to Spain. Her rule lasted 27 days—one cycle of the moon.

Based on a true story, Camilleri's gripping and richly imagined novel tells the story of a woman whose courage and political vision is tested at every step by misogyny and reactionary conservatism.

Andrea Camilleri
Andrea Camilleri is widely considered to be one of the greatest living Italian writers. His Montalbano crime series, each installment of which is a bestseller in Italy, is published in America by Penguin Random House. Several books in the series have been New York Times bestsellers. His literary honors include the Nino Martoglio International Book Award. Born in Sicily, Camilleri died in 2019, at the age of 93.

• Jun 15 2017
  “This is one of the most delightful books I’ve read for some time.”
  — European Literature Network
• Jun 5 2017
  “A beautifully imagined recreation of seventeenth century Sicily and a little known event that rightly deserves its place in history.”
  — Nudge Book
• May 15 2017
  “a fascinating story built on a true historical moment”
  — Words Without Borders
• May 1 2017
  “I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to discover a remarkable, forgotten woman.”
  — The Historical Novels Review
• Apr 17 2017
  “A stew of facts and fiction to perfection”
  — Mountains and Plains Independent Booksellers Association (MPIBA)
• Apr 10 2017
  “a marvelous historical drama”
  — Publishers Weekly