Helen BerryBesprekingen

This book tells the story of Tenducci, an Italian castrato singer who eloped with a young woman, Dorothea Maunsell, whose music teacher he was at the time;she followed him to Scotland when he got a music post there, and eventually to Italy—but then she started annulment proceedings to legitimise her relationship with another man. A large part of the evidence given at the annulment proceedings has survived and the proceedings focused on Tenducci's body: proving he had been castrated and therefore was unable to father children, a key criterion for determining if a marriage had been consummated or not.

This was a fascinating and compelling read.

A fascinating factual account of Tenducci and his bride, Dorothea Maunsell, this is not only a great insight to the life of a castrato and those responsible for the mutilation of young boys (unsurprisingly, in part the church), but a peek into the influence of opera on London and the lives of women back in the 1700s. Perhaps most amazing is the rebellious and staunch Dorothea during a time when a modern audience might expect a woman of that age to cower in fear. History may look at her two ways, either conniving or resourceful, the lengths women needed to go to in order to have any control of their lives, being the property of a man, either that of their fathers or husbands. It also throws a light on society of the time, revealing an inclination to live above one’s means even with the threat of debtor’s prison. Well, written and engaging, there are many reasons to read this book.

Please visit my blog to read my review:
http://theidlewoman.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/the-castrato-and-his-wife-helen-berry...

Fascinating account of the 18th century castrato singer Giusto Tenducci, who eloped with one of his fans and married her. Later she left him for another man and sought an annulment of the marriage on the grounds that the marriage could not have been consummated since he was incapable of siring a child.

The author brings in a potted history of opera and castrati, as well as a discussion of the changes in attitudes to marriage from it being seen as purely a means of procreation to an institution based on mutual love and companionship.½

Barely two stars. I would say this book was a load of bollocks, but it didn't have any.

This book is proof of the old adage that truth is stranger than fiction. Were anyone to write a novel mirroring the life of Guisto Ferdinando Tenducci, it would be mocked as too fanciful.

Tenducci was a castrato; as a boy his testicles were removed to prevent puberty spoiling his voice. This was an illegal act, but one that occurred regularly with little punitive action, despite the fact that it ruined the voice as often as it preserved it.

It was illegal for castrate to marry but, they were highly prized in eighteenth century society, and once more, Tenducci avoided the consequences. His wife made advances towards him, as a way of sidestepping a potential marriage that did not suit her and became a star in her own right - something frowned upon at the time.

The Tenduccis became rich and famous but, Guisto held the seeds of his own destruction and ended his days as a pauper.

Helen Berry makes this odd tale come to life; her style is entertaining, without falling into the trap of being titillating. The book is well researched and has enough notes upon sources, etc. for anyone studying Tenducci, or the castrate in general to follow up any area of the story. This does not mean that an ordinary reader, such as myself cannot ignore the in depth study and thoroughly enjoy a fascinating tale of life two hundred and fifty years ago.