The Nuns of Sant'Ambrogio

Starred review from November 24, 2014
This sordid tale of sexual indecency, false saints, and murder within a 19th-century convent in Rome has all the trappings of a good thriller. What begins with a 1859 complaint by a German noblewoman against Sant'Ambrogio (specifically, against the corrupt practices of novice mistress Maria Luisa) soon becomes a full-blown scandal: the subsequent investigation implicates prominent clergy in practices that blur the line between mysticism and the carnality. Behind the lurid story, however, are deeper historical conflicts. Both the rise of Romanticismâand its attendant fascination with the supernaturalâand struggles over the direction of the modern Church explain the extent of the scandal and the passion with it was investigated. Wolf (Pope and Devil), a professor of ecclesiastical history at the University of Münster, adds detailed historical context and careful explanations to elevate this tale beyond sensationalism into a more serious study of a fascinating real-life melodrama.

Starred review from May 25, 2015
This book focuses on the imprisonment of a German princess by a Catholic convent in Rome in the 1850s, exploring the intersection of politics, religion, sexuality, and a changing modern world. Wolf provides a vivid discussion of the events and the larger implications for Catholicism, Italy, and the world beyond, by delving into the history books, journal entries, church documents, and other sources that he weaves together in a captivating narrative. Boehmer’s performance of the audio edition is nothing short of fantastic. He executes his typical lilting rhythmic delivery, with almost hypnotic results that keep the listener engaged. Most impressive is his pronunciation of foreign languages, jumping from English to Italian to German, pronouncing long and complicated phrases without missing a beat and keeping the narration engaging. A Knopf hardcover.