喬凡尼與盧莎娜：一場婚姻訴訟，一個關於文藝復興時期階級、性別與法律的故事

by Gene A. Brucker, 羅亞琪 (Translator)

★發行英、法、義、荷等多國語言版本
★微觀史學經典之作，走入文藝復興佛羅倫斯的社會生活

　　十五世紀的佛羅倫斯商業與文藝發展鼎盛、社會規範有序。然而，本應是無從交集的兩人――裁縫師之女盧莎娜與豪門家族子弟喬凡尼，怎會打破藩籬，深陷愛的誘惑？這段跨越階級的愛情，為何後來又演變成謊言、欺瞞、互相控訴的關係？一場婚姻訴訟，背後竟牽連了宗教與政治間的司法權糾紛？法庭交鋒的證人辯詞，能否為盧莎娜在男性相對優勢的社會裡爭取正義？

　　本書透過一起記錄完整的訴訟案件，帶領讀者親臨法庭現場，旁觀案件的前因後果、論理是非，並探討文藝復興時期婚姻與社會風俗、階級與性別的差異、共和政府的政治和外交運作，以及教權和政權緊張的互動關係，足堪譽為微觀史學經典之作。

　　導讀
　　臺大歷史系教授 花亦芬

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Genres: History, Nonfiction, Renaissance, Italy, Read For School, Historical, School

184 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 22, 1986

Reviews

[Emylie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting little blurb into two people in Florence. An interesting case, and I was surprised that Lusanna won, though her lot in life afterwards seemed to do poorer. A lot of these scandals seem to catch the eye about what was exceptional during the time, but it tells a lot about what was normal too. This seemed to fall a little in between, and it was fun to learn.

[Michaela · Rating 3 out of 5]

I actually really enjoyed this micro history even though it was a requirement for my Early Modern Europe class. I think it gives a great window into the social, marital, and sexual relationships in Renaissance Florence. Giovanni and Lusanna’s story is very interesting and unique but still sheds a lot of light on the norms of their era.

It’s a straightforward read, not difficult to understand. I definitely recommend m, especially to history lovers and those who are interested in Medici Florence.

[Cayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brief summary

Giovanni: promises Lusanna marriage so he can rail her twice in his friend's upstairs bedroom, ditches her, marries a 12 yr old girl, and has two illegitimate sons.

Lusanna: Absolute queen. Def poisoned her first husband. Wins the court case against Giovanni. Participated in the straight person nasty with several DILFs in Florence.

Andrea (Lusanna's first husband): A homosexual bread baker.

[Shelby · Rating 4 out of 5]

This recount of a whirlwind love affair turned legal battle set in Renaissance Florence is intriguing, to say the least. When one considers the traditional gender roles and marriage customs of the era, it is clear that this is no traditional love story. Lusanna, a woman of the artisan class, was widely regarded as exquisitely beautiful by her many suitors. Giovanni was one of Lusanna's many suitors who pined after her despite the fact that Lusanna was married. The affair occurred over many years and created quite the controversy throughout Florence, some rumors referring to Lusanna as promiscuous. The affair wasn't meant to be, Giovanni desired to marry another woman, but Lusanna claimed they were still married. Due to a woman's lower social status than men in this age, hardly anyone believed her. Lusanna, however, was determined to prove those who were against her wrong and went to court. Lusanna's defiance of the traditional gender roles and stubborn determination is what makes this historic love turned legal affair as recounted by Brucker extremely compelling. Brucker provides a great flow of events and background to the story that even those unfamiliar with the essence of Renaissance Florence will appreciate his retelling.

[Emmkay · Rating 3 out of 5]

An intriguing, if brief, microhistory about the efforts of a woman in Renaissance Florence to hold her aristocratic lover to account. Through her brother, Lusanna brought a case in ecclesiastical court alleging that aristocratic Giovanni had wed her in secret then abandoned her to wed a younger woman of his own social status. Very interesting and suggestive archival work, though much is left unsaid.

[MIL · Rating 5 out of 5]

很久沒用電子圖書館借書看了
最近想不要那麼挺出版業顧顧荷包
經書友提醒，又回來用雲端書庫和Hyread
本書是從雲端書庫借的
說實在的閱讀介面有夠陽春難用Orz
不過有些沒那麼想買的書或漫畫能夠找到的話
以後還是能省下不少錢

回到本書，沒想到是本薄薄的書
一個晚上就看完了，比看輕小說還快
(電子書看慣了對厚薄已經失去感覺)

全書講一個佛羅倫斯貴族渣男騙婚工匠之女
工匠之女不甘心打官司的故事
從中可以看到文藝復興時代的佛羅倫斯民生百態
以及當時女性地位低落，無法享受文藝復興帶來的個人解放
議論不多，敘事為主，很像在看小說
是本值得一讀的小品論文

當中最有收獲的是當時義大利城邦的平民階級
也不完全只能挨貴族打
女傳主家裁縫師出身，也有門路通天到羅馬
令教宗下令總主教受理女傳主的官司請求
而審理本案的總主教，原生家庭跟本書女傳主地位相彷
都是手藝人家庭出身，還是能爬到教會的高位
另外就是文藝復興歐洲的法律系統，已經有現代法庭的雛型
重視保障兩造權利和證據，同時司法與行政分離
雖然還是充滿上下其手的空間
但相對同期中國，先進不少

[Petruccio Hambasket IV · Rating 3 out of 5]

The idea for this book all started when Renaissance historian 'Gene Brucker' dug up an interesting set of notary protocols during his time spent in the Florentine state archives. What he discovered in those lengthy legal documents went on to highlight an atypical set of Florentine events which would inevitably lead all the way to a papal breve being sent out in 1455: ordering the immediate investigation of a marriage case gone horribly befuddled.

The suit involves the daughter of a foreign born artisan, Lusanna, as the plaintiff of a situation that can at its best be described as gross misunderstanding of what constitutes a marital bond. You would initially think the documentation of a proper marriage ceremony would solve such an issue almost immediately, but alas, nothing seems to be that easy in the mid 14th century Florentine world. Lusanna's so-called 'husband', a wealthy young aristocrat by the name of 'Givoanni della Casa', decides that his marriage to Lusanna literally never happened and remarries during their ongoing engagement. The vicious and dirty back and forth legal battle is depicted splendidly by Brucker who gives us a background check on both of the leading stars (and supporting cast) as we try to wrestle the squirming facts into bare submission. Is Lusanna a lying adulterous harlot just trying to climb the ranks? Did Giovanni abhorrently miscalculate what his social position could do for him? Was their actually a clandestine wedding ceremony on a certain May day? Decide for yourself as you take in a dramatic collage of sworn testament from over a dozen unique witnesses (low born peasants, high-ranking officials, family, friends, etc.). This interesting case of 'he said/she said' attracted the direct action of many leading city members: including a nasty semantic argument between Florence's' archbishop and podesta (lay judge), and potentially even the golden boy Cosimo de Medici himself. More importantly the point Brucker tries to bring out is that this study of an out of the ordinary event will give us much insight into the social conventions of Renaissance Florence and will broaden our knowledge of love and marriage in this period.

Overall, quite an interesting read, and to my surprise not as dry as these type of specialized historical prints tend to be. This is what modern scholarship would label 'microhistory', or specifically the study of a single small event: which is used to try and understand larger ideas/themes related to its time frame. Brucker splits this conveniently into 5 informative sections requiring no historical background knowledge to jump in this strange little study (easily readable in one sitting), and he makes sure to explain as much as he can towards the end. Worth a shot if you're a history enthusiastic and a must read for Renaissance fans.

[Georgia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had to read this for my degree and to be honest I found it quite boring.

[Derek Rivard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have used this book for four years to help teach Italian social history of the Renaissance, and (as a work for beginners) I cannot recommend it highly enough.

[C P · Rating 2 out of 5]

A renaissance feminist microhistory on the pattern of Immodest Acts (published the year before), but with several disadvantages. The introduction to Immodest Acts provided an excellent, dense survey of medieval Catholic legal treatment of the issue; here, the reader is left completely without a frame of reference for the actual processes and arguments described, seriously limiting the value of the work. Second, the case is fundamentally more mundane. Third, to compensate, the analysis is both overreaching and overwrought. While our author freely admits that adultery was common in renaissance Florence, we are nonetheless expected to admire Lusanna as a rebellious feminist icon who ignored the mores of her time. Simultaneously, we are told to admire the judge who enforces those mores simply because once Lusanna's husband is dead strict monogamy is in Lusanna's financial interest. Brucker's analysis of Lusanna's character is fanciful to the point of delusion. The actual resolution of the case is saved for a short epilogue, and no attempt is made to square that result with the claims made in the final chapter.

[Lizabeth J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have assigned this book in several different courses on late medieval history and gender history. The book is very useful in helping students understand the complex nature of marriage in Renaissance-era Florentine society. Brucker provides a very good discussion of how marriage traditionally worked for members of the noble and wealthier classes in Florence, as well as how marriage traditionally worked for members of the artisan and working classes. In addition, Brucker describes the challenges that a woman of the artisan class faced in seeking justice against a man of the wealthier, politically influential class, including the resistance the woman faced not just from members of that politically influential class but also from members of her own class, who saw her not as a woman wronged but as a grasping social climber. Most importantly, students have the opportunity to learn about traditional female and male gender roles, as both Lusanna and Giovanni were essentially prohibited from marrying for love by the society they lived in.

[Denise Kettering · Rating 4 out of 5]

Giovanni and Lusanna were a couple in the fifteenth century. What began as an apparent illicit affair before Lusanna's husband died, apparently became a licit marriage. At least according to Lusanna there was a marriage that took place. However, she never cohabited with Giovanni, so there was some doubt and the situation was exacerbated when Giovanni got betrothed to another young woman. Lusanna, in an attempt to assert her claim, appealed to the church court and there proceeded to be a series of witnesses on both sides. Originally, Lusanna won the suit by proving that the two had actually married. However, Giovanni used his considerable social and financial connections to gain an annulment and married the other young woman. The book really shows the way that the social connections worked for these folks. The book is interesting and Brucker is a good writer and storyteller, giving insight into the way both try to manipulate the system to their advantage.

[Alexandra Wendt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book in only a week, which is the fastest I've read a scholarly work since I had to skim books quickly for graduate school. That speaks well of both the brevity of the work, as well as Brucker's accessible writing. As someone who didn't much enjoy archival work, I'm always impressed by those who can so diligently weave together a nearly complete historical record from it. Giovanni and Lusanna's story was interesting and illuminating, and I particularly enjoyed the insights into the nuances of Florence's social structure at the time. My only critique would be that he seemed to jump to some assumptions/conclusions based on little to no evidence, in order to fit the particular narrative he wanted to construct of a "liberated" and "unique" woman of the time. As useful as archival work is, notarial and tax records can only tell us so much about the interaction between the sexes over 500 years ago and what drives personal motivation.

[Raymond Li · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the masterpieces of microhistory. Using the court records of a fifteen-century Florentine notary and local financial records, the author recreates the relationship between a middle-class woman obsessed with love and a local Florentine of the upper echelon. Although the trial in Rome ended with Lusanna's defeat, readers can still get a glimpse of a part of Florence's socio-economic and cultural life at that time and the world view of people from different walks of life. Lusanna, a middle-class family, and Giovanni, a playboy from the upper class, become a historical anecdote with their cross-class relationship. Unlike other microhistorians, Gene Brucker focuses more on the narrative than the theoretical part of the book, thus making it much more readable.

[Grace Pfaffle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read all of this in one sitting because I couldn’t put it down. While this isn’t crazy, heroic, erotic, action-packed, mysterious, or any other kind of book flavor, I found it fantastic. Essentially, this book is a microhistory recounting of a million-and-one lies and truths told in a court case about the validity of a marriage in Florence during the reign of the Medici (in which the wife brings a case against her husband to court). I’ve never been interested in reality TV shows, but this work felt like a summary of one of those shows’ newest season. I mean, absolutely hilarious some of the stuff recounted and quoted. I absolutely recommend this book. It’s such a quick read, it literally took me around three hours, and is so fun to delve into.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/5 Stars *Read for School*

This was an account of a court case surrounding the legitimacy of a marriage in Renaissance Florence. It focused mostly on love and marriage in terms of class and gender, and I found those elements interesting. Other than that, it was about as engaging as a textbook.

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The blueprint for modern television drama. This walked so that The Real Housewives, Muarry, Gossip Girls, and Wendy Williams could run. Gossip, drama, sex, betrayal, lies. I read this for my Italian Law History Class and its a 100% true story which makes it even better. Read this in one sitting soo soo good.

[Shannon Kauderer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Obviously well researched, but was not very good at bringing the reader up to speed with the culture of the time. Too much time is spent saying "this is just a possibility" instead of showing the facts and letting the reader come to a conclusion themselves.

[T.M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting.

[SLello · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fairly quick read, and an interesting glimpse into Italian society in the 1400's. Lusanna was a woman ahead of her time!

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Excellent portrayal of Renaissance city-state marital laws and customs.

[Sam Ramer · Rating 2 out of 5]

A flawed narrative. Leaves too many unanswered questions about Renaissance Florence.

[Emily Chambers · Rating 3 out of 5]

Who needs reality TV, Florence was wild’n

[Rachael Ball · Rating 4 out of 5]

Re-reading for my Ren Ref class.

[Faye · Rating 2 out of 5]

For class

[Em Stolp · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a confusing read.

[Ali Topete · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5 stars

[emma :) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating portrait of life and culture in 15th century Florence! I ❤️the micro history genre

[Cassy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Had to read for school.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

In 1455, Lusanna, the daughter of an artisan and the widow of a linen-cloth manufacturer, sued Giovanni, a wealthy merchant and member of a prominent family, seeking legal recognition of their clandestine marriage. Basically, Lusanna claimed there was a marriage, while Giovanni denied it and claimed Lusanna was simply his mistress. Like Brucker states, "The disparity in social status between Giovanni and Lusanna was a critical issue in the dispute, evoking a variety of reactions from the witnesses."

Lusanna and Giovanni grew up within a few minutes' walk of each other, though they inhabited very different worlds. Lusanna came from an artisan family, which was of lower rank than Giovanni's merchant clan. Giovanni first saw Lusanna in the early 1440s when they were both in their early 20s. At that time, Lusanna had been married for half a dozen years. According to Lusanna and her family, there was a clandestine marriage ceremony between herself and Giovanni four months after her first husband's death, and this was conducted by a priest who was a friend of Giovanni's. According to Giovanni and his supporters, he and Lusanna were simply lovers. He portrayed Lusanna as a woman of loose morals who had several other lovers in addition to him. Things came to a head when Giovanni married another woman. Lusanna sued him, demanding that their relationship be recognized legally.

This whole affair reminds me of something you see all the time in the news - a woman makes an accusation against a wealthy, powerful man and - rightly or wrongly - is attacked in the media because of it. It has been 560 years since this suit, so it is impossible to know what the truth is. The book is a little dry, as history books often are. Sometimes the names can get confusing. The book is quite short, just 138 pages (including index). I think it could have been fleshed out a little more. However, this is an interesting portrait of a woman who did not hesitate to fight when she felt her rights were being violated.