Between the 16th and 17th centuries the fact that a woman did not shed tears when her husband died could be considered evidence of adultery and lead to the death sentence as evidenced by the transcripts of trials held in Sicily, Spain and Latin America. The novel Women’s Tears (Le lacrime delle signore, 2012) written by the internationally renowned historian Manlio Bellomo is based on the legal transcripts of these trials and takes place in Sicily in 16th century. This novel provides and effective analysis of a neglected aspect of women’s history with the vitality of a contemporary historic novel
Che una donna non versasse lacrime alla morte del marito poteva essere ritenuto, tra Cinquecento e Seicento, indizio di adulterio, sino a condurre alla condanna a morte, come testimoniano documenti di processi tenutisi in Sicilia, in Spagna e in America latina. Su questi documenti giuridici è costruito l’intreccio del romanzo Le lacrime delle signore (2012), ambientato nella Sicilia di fine Cinquecento, e scritto da uno storico del diritto di fama internazionale, Manlio Bellomo. In questo articolo si intende prendere in esame un aspetto poco noto della storia delle donne, riesumato con efficacia nella finzione narrativa di un romanzo storico contemporaneo.
Lacrime delle donne e adulterio tra storia, diritto e fictio. Su un romanzo di Manlio Bellomo
Manganaro Andrea
2018-01-01
Abstract
Between the 16th and 17th centuries the fact that a woman did not shed tears when her husband died could be considered evidence of adultery and lead to the death sentence as evidenced by the transcripts of trials held in Sicily, Spain and Latin America. The novel Women’s Tears (Le lacrime delle signore, 2012) written by the internationally renowned historian Manlio Bellomo is based on the legal transcripts of these trials and takes place in Sicily in 16th century. This novel provides and effective analysis of a neglected aspect of women’s history with the vitality of a contemporary historic novelI documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.