Rita Coruzzi’s book entitled “L’impavida” (Piemme Edizioni, 2024) retraces “The rebellious life of Cia degli Ordelaffi, the woman who challenged the Pope”, which will be presented on Friday 3 May at 5pm in the Agnelli room of the Ariostea municipal library (via Scienze 17 Ferrara). They will dialogue with the author: Ivana Sica and Elisa Bochicchio, with an introduction by Anna Quarzi.
The meeting, organized by the Lions Reading Group, can also be followed live on the Archibiblio web YouTube channel.
It was 1334 when the young and beautiful Marzia degli Ubaldini, known as Cia, married Francesco degli Ordelaffi, lord of Forlì and Cesena. And with that marriage she marks the abandonment of everything that her life had been up to that moment. She has always been a skilled horsewoman, a lover more of games of arms than of embroidery and painting, but more as if they were a pastime, an entertainment. Alongside her husband, however, she will have to face very harsh trials, deceptions and betrayals, defeats, to which, however, she will never give in.
When Pope Innocent VI, from Avignon, decides that the time has come to restore the Papal States and to repossess the lands of Emilia and Marca, Cia and Francesco do not lower their heads: that is their land and, if the Pontiff wants it, he will have to take it with sword and fire. To counter the troops sent by Rome, the two are forced to separate and each defend a city: he remains in Forlì, the most prestigious fiefdom, while she, alone, together with her children and a small handful of soldiers, locks herself in the fortress of Cesena awaiting the battle.
It will be a terrible siege, with an exhausted population that will eventually give in to the enticements of the Guelphs, rebelling against its lady in the name of the Pope, but Cia will never leave her place on the front lines, next to her soldiers even when her life is in danger .
Rita Coruzzi brings to life an extraordinary and fearless woman, a very modern female historical character to be rediscovered.
Born in Reggio Emilia, Rita Coruzzi attended classical high school, obtaining a three-year degree in Literature from the University of Parma in 2009, and a master’s degree in Journalism and editorial culture in 2012 from the same university. You have participated in numerous television programmes, including “Porta a Porta”, “La vita in diretta”, “Uno Mattino”, “Mattino Cinque”, “A lei Immagine di Lei” and other programmes. After publishing her first book at 18, she embarked on the path of historical novels, now reaching her 22nd publication: The Fearless is her fourth historical novel after Matilde, The Heretic of God and The Judge. Her books have won numerous prizes in literary competitions, as well as several personal recognitions: on 2 June 2023 she was awarded the nomination of Knight of the Republic.
Direct link to the Archibiblio web YouTube channel with live broadcasts and the archive of recordings of the meetings: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1_ahjDGRJ3MgG45Pxs90Bg
