Porzia

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About this book

A wedding celebration in Naples becomes an argument about the stars, ancient philosophy and the authority of the Church. Set around 1570, Cale Young Rice's verse play places Porzia and her husband, Rizzio di Rossi, among scholars and relatives divided over faith and intellectual freedom. Rizzio welcomes ideas that his brother Osio condemns as heresy. The terrace, garden and view across the bay give the opening festivities a vivid physical setting.

Religious dispute soon carries a personal edge as Osio claims a right to protect Porzia and Bianca challenges his treatment of their betrothal. The dialogue moves between playful exchanges and sharp accusations, with stage directions tracing shifts in mood and movement. For readers interested in poetic drama, the play offers a Renaissance setting where arguments about truth and authority become entangled with family loyalty, jealousy and marriage.

About the author

Cale Young Rice

Cale Young Rice built his career as an American poet and verse dramatist whose books joined lyrical travel impressions to sustained dramatic form. David; A Tragedy, issued by McClure, Phillips in 1904, reshapes the biblical conflict around Saul's court, placing David among Jonathan, Michal, Samuel, and rivals for political power.