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The Blind Contessa's New Machine
An iridescent jewel of a novel that proves love is the mother of invention
In the early 1800s, a young Italian contessa, Carolina Fantoni, realizes she is going blind shortly before she marries the town's most sought-after bachelor. Her parents don't believe her, nor does her fiancé. The only one who understands is the eccentric local inventor and her longtime companion, Turri. When her eyesight dims forever, Carolina can no longer see her beloved lake or the rich hues of her own dresses. But as darkness erases her world, she discovers one place she can still see-in her dreams. Carolina creates a vivid dreaming life, in which she can not only see, but also fly, exploring lands she had never known.
Desperate to communicate with Carolina, Turri invents a peculiar machine for the world's first typewriter. His gift ignites a passionate love affair that will change both of their lives forever.
Based on the true story of a nineteenth-century inventor and his innovative contraption, The Blind Contessa's New Machine is an enchanting confection of love and the triumph of the imagination.
In the early 1800s, a young Italian contessa, Carolina Fantoni, realizes she is going blind shortly before she marries the town's most sought-after bachelor. Her parents don't believe her, nor does her fiancé. The only one who understands is the eccentric local inventor and her longtime companion, Turri. When her eyesight dims forever, Carolina can no longer see her beloved lake or the rich hues of her own dresses. But as darkness erases her world, she discovers one place she can still see-in her dreams. Carolina creates a vivid dreaming life, in which she can not only see, but also fly, exploring lands she had never known.
Desperate to communicate with Carolina, Turri invents a peculiar machine for the world's first typewriter. His gift ignites a passionate love affair that will change both of their lives forever.
Based on the true story of a nineteenth-century inventor and his innovative contraption, The Blind Contessa's New Machine is an enchanting confection of love and the triumph of the imagination.
207 pages, Hardcover
First published July 1, 2010
43 people are currently reading
2257 people want to read
About the author
Carey Wallace
15 books42 followers Carey Wallace was raised in small towns in Michigan. Her work has appeared in Oasis, SPSM&H, Detroit's MetroTimes and quarrtsiluni, which she guest-edited in 2008. She is a founder of the Working Artists Initiative for the International Arts Movement, which helps emerging artists establish strong creative habits, of the Zoae Series, a New York arts showcase which she directed until 2008, and of the event-based Lost City Gallery, which has connected young artists with patrons in both New York and Detroit. She is a photographer with Detroit Safari, which has documented Detroit's vulnerable abandoned landmarks annually since 2003. In 2000, she also founded an annual arts retreat, The Hillbilly Underground, which draws nationally-recognized filmakers, writers, fine artists, and musicians to rural Michigan each summer. She lives and works in Brooklyn.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 508 reviews
February 13, 2025
Rating: 4.75* of five
A good friend on LibraryThing reminded me of this wonderful little book that I loved reading ten years ago now...a first novel, a small moment in history that shows the true meaning of love is, and always was, rising to meet the rough patches and working to make them smooth again.
https://expendablemudge.blogspot.com/...
Magical, beautiful, and historically accurate. How rare is that?
ETA: I love this exchange in the Reader's Guide included in later editions of the book.
A good friend on LibraryThing reminded me of this wonderful little book that I loved reading ten years ago now...a first novel, a small moment in history that shows the true meaning of love is, and always was, rising to meet the rough patches and working to make them smooth again.
https://expendablemudge.blogspot.com/...
Magical, beautiful, and historically accurate. How rare is that?
ETA: I love this exchange in the Reader's Guide included in later editions of the book.
Do obstacles make love more enduring or passionate? Has that been true in your own life?
Love is a mystery and it looks different for every person. In general, my feeling is that life is hard all by itself, and that there's no need to go looking for trouble in our relationships: they should be a place where we find comfort and rest. That said, I've never seen a good relationship that wasn't hard-won on some level.
November 1, 2018
4.5/5
Wow this book is underrated. I found it in a corner of a used bookstore and just couldn't pass it up because of the cover of it. It's so unique and colorful and just so pretty.
“His small compliments and offhand remarks formed a new scripture, and in breathless conversations and lonely, dream-drunk nights they built whole theologies from them.”
I'm happy I dived right into this book without looking it up on Goodreads first (because sometimes that can definitely spoil the fun). I was surprised to see such low average rating (3.47), and I am happy to be in minority of people who truly loved this book. Minority is usual where I like to be when books are concerned.
I'm not a fan of magical realism at all, and I am not sure this book was magical realism, but it definitely had aspects of it. So, in conclusion, I have no idea what I just read, but I know that I really, really enjoyed it.
“I am going blind,” she had blurted to her mother, in the welcome dimness of the family coach, her eyes still bright with tears from the searing winter sun. By this time, her peripheral vision was already gone. Carolina could feel her mother take her hand, but she had to turn to see her face. When she did, her mother kissed her, her own eyes full of pity. I have been in love, too,” she said, and looked away.”
Besides not liking magical realism I also am not a fan of affair stories (usually that is). But somehow all of the stars have aligned and this story just spoke to me and I ended up loving every part of it. I do wish the ending was more concrete though, but honestly that is the only complaint.
I am going to say that this book is not for everyone (as evident by the low ratings), but when the correct person finds it - the sparks fly. The only time I remember feeling this elevated about a book was when I read The Night Circus and The Girl who Drank the Moon - all of these books are so very different, but all of them make the reader FEEL the book. Somehow these books engage all of the sense and you can smell, touch and experience the book almost in dimensional perception. Magic? I think so.
Now I know I sound like I'm gushing, but don't get me wrong - the book isn't perfect. It's far from it, but somehow in that imperfection it's ... perfect. The Blind contessa's New Machine made me want to appreciate every little detail. It made me touch the bark of trees, to feel the carpet with my toes, to sit with my eyes closed and juts breathe. And those little experiences to me are priceless. I spend my life hunting for books that make me feel like this.
The writing style was also one of my favorite things in this book - it wasn't wordy at all. It's more about what the book wasn't saying than what it was actually saying. It's about the things that lurk in the dark, the things about which we prefer not to talk, the things we do when the night comes and we don't think anybody would find out. But despite of that shortness, all of the descriptions were absolutely luscious and mesmerizingly real.
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Wow this book is underrated. I found it in a corner of a used bookstore and just couldn't pass it up because of the cover of it. It's so unique and colorful and just so pretty.
“His small compliments and offhand remarks formed a new scripture, and in breathless conversations and lonely, dream-drunk nights they built whole theologies from them.”
I'm happy I dived right into this book without looking it up on Goodreads first (because sometimes that can definitely spoil the fun). I was surprised to see such low average rating (3.47), and I am happy to be in minority of people who truly loved this book. Minority is usual where I like to be when books are concerned.
I'm not a fan of magical realism at all, and I am not sure this book was magical realism, but it definitely had aspects of it. So, in conclusion, I have no idea what I just read, but I know that I really, really enjoyed it.
“I am going blind,” she had blurted to her mother, in the welcome dimness of the family coach, her eyes still bright with tears from the searing winter sun. By this time, her peripheral vision was already gone. Carolina could feel her mother take her hand, but she had to turn to see her face. When she did, her mother kissed her, her own eyes full of pity. I have been in love, too,” she said, and looked away.”
Besides not liking magical realism I also am not a fan of affair stories (usually that is). But somehow all of the stars have aligned and this story just spoke to me and I ended up loving every part of it. I do wish the ending was more concrete though, but honestly that is the only complaint.
I am going to say that this book is not for everyone (as evident by the low ratings), but when the correct person finds it - the sparks fly. The only time I remember feeling this elevated about a book was when I read The Night Circus and The Girl who Drank the Moon - all of these books are so very different, but all of them make the reader FEEL the book. Somehow these books engage all of the sense and you can smell, touch and experience the book almost in dimensional perception. Magic? I think so.
Now I know I sound like I'm gushing, but don't get me wrong - the book isn't perfect. It's far from it, but somehow in that imperfection it's ... perfect. The Blind contessa's New Machine made me want to appreciate every little detail. It made me touch the bark of trees, to feel the carpet with my toes, to sit with my eyes closed and juts breathe. And those little experiences to me are priceless. I spend my life hunting for books that make me feel like this.
The writing style was also one of my favorite things in this book - it wasn't wordy at all. It's more about what the book wasn't saying than what it was actually saying. It's about the things that lurk in the dark, the things about which we prefer not to talk, the things we do when the night comes and we don't think anybody would find out. But despite of that shortness, all of the descriptions were absolutely luscious and mesmerizingly real.
My WEBSITE
My INSTAGRAM
My WORDPRESS BLOG
May 10, 2021
NO SPOILERS!!!
Through page 40: This is a love story – not just one love story, but actually several. A GR friend once remarked that I didn't like romance or that I rarely read love stories, and that is true. However I do enjoy love stories, but they must be magical as all real love is! The prose of this book is magical and enchanting, like a fairy tale for adults. See my quote from pages 36 and 37:
"Surprised, C looked at him."
"'You know that I love you,' he said."
"The words rang in her mind like an alarm bell."
"'I know,' she said, and took her hand away."
"But for P to receive full control of his lands and property, his father had also dictated that he should be married…."
"It was impossible that he should choose her, but: he must choose souse somebody. Like a child with a lottery ticket, she understood the slimness of her chance, but until another name was called, while her paper ticket melted in her damp hand, she had just as much right to dream of stepping up to receive the prize as anyone."
I want a fairy tale to be delightful in its essence, with dark dramatic punches of grief to tie it to the real world. I want this both in adult and children´s literature.
Through page 68: As anyone can see from the title the Contessa is going blind. The people who should understand don't, but others do. I find this interesting…… Some lack the insight or the courage to consider HER world rather than their own. Furthermore, her emotions are cleverly portrayed – her fear, her lack of understanding and her need to share her burden HONESTLY with another. Quote from page 61.
"Her sight had dwindled now so that her field of vision was almost completely overtaken by shadows, with two small bright spots through which she could see the world, as if through windows on the other side of the room."
An inventor friend had explained to her how vision can disappear either from the periphery, as it was doing in the Contessa's case or from the center. From pages 64-65.
"Hearing him speak the truth aloud, after keeping it in silence for so long, C was seized with a sudden urge to deny everything and retreat with her parents and P to the refuge of delusion for as long as it would shelter them. But the sound of T's voice also seemed to shake something loose: cut a weight free from her shoulders, throw a window open in the room."
Although this novel is historical fiction written in the guise of a fairy tale, there is much that can be compared to real life. Most people with an illness do NOT have all the facts presented to them. Science isn't foolproof and each individual reacts differently, both physically and emotionally.
I just finished the book, and wow did I love it. Yes, it had a fairy tale feel to it, but I believe it very well describes how it might feel to become blind. It is in fact historical fiction about the invention of the first typewriter! The thoughts and emotions that one might experience as one sinks into blindness are poignantly laid out. Little details that would never have occurred to me are cleverly depicted: Someone asks a question, but no reply is heard. That doesn't mean no reply was given! A head could have nodded in response. This is played out before your eyes. It gives you a punch in the gut. I have sighted just one example of many.
There are several main characters in the book. What each one says and does shows the reader each individual's particular temperament. Here follows just two examples:
"He was the first person she had spoken to outside her home since she lost her sight. For a moment shyness paralyzed her. Then she raised her eyes to what she guessed must be his face."
"'I'm much taller than you think.' T said. 'That's the third button of my shirt.'"
"Carolina lifted her eyes higher."
"'My Roman nose,' he said."
"She smiled and tried again." (page 98)
And on page 104.
"You are so beautiful. Who cares if you can see?"
One cannot help but smile at one person and grimace at another…… Me, I love Turri! I love his imagination and his belief in dreams. He gives the Contessa much more than just the first typewriter. You must read the story to find out what he gives her and also how the Contessa comes to live her life.
BUT: don't expect to read this book and get the details of the production of the first typewriters. This is NOT the purpose of this book!
Through page 40: This is a love story – not just one love story, but actually several. A GR friend once remarked that I didn't like romance or that I rarely read love stories, and that is true. However I do enjoy love stories, but they must be magical as all real love is! The prose of this book is magical and enchanting, like a fairy tale for adults. See my quote from pages 36 and 37:
"Surprised, C looked at him."
"'You know that I love you,' he said."
"The words rang in her mind like an alarm bell."
"'I know,' she said, and took her hand away."
"But for P to receive full control of his lands and property, his father had also dictated that he should be married…."
"It was impossible that he should choose her, but: he must choose souse somebody. Like a child with a lottery ticket, she understood the slimness of her chance, but until another name was called, while her paper ticket melted in her damp hand, she had just as much right to dream of stepping up to receive the prize as anyone."
I want a fairy tale to be delightful in its essence, with dark dramatic punches of grief to tie it to the real world. I want this both in adult and children´s literature.
Through page 68: As anyone can see from the title the Contessa is going blind. The people who should understand don't, but others do. I find this interesting…… Some lack the insight or the courage to consider HER world rather than their own. Furthermore, her emotions are cleverly portrayed – her fear, her lack of understanding and her need to share her burden HONESTLY with another. Quote from page 61.
"Her sight had dwindled now so that her field of vision was almost completely overtaken by shadows, with two small bright spots through which she could see the world, as if through windows on the other side of the room."
An inventor friend had explained to her how vision can disappear either from the periphery, as it was doing in the Contessa's case or from the center. From pages 64-65.
"Hearing him speak the truth aloud, after keeping it in silence for so long, C was seized with a sudden urge to deny everything and retreat with her parents and P to the refuge of delusion for as long as it would shelter them. But the sound of T's voice also seemed to shake something loose: cut a weight free from her shoulders, throw a window open in the room."
Although this novel is historical fiction written in the guise of a fairy tale, there is much that can be compared to real life. Most people with an illness do NOT have all the facts presented to them. Science isn't foolproof and each individual reacts differently, both physically and emotionally.
I just finished the book, and wow did I love it. Yes, it had a fairy tale feel to it, but I believe it very well describes how it might feel to become blind. It is in fact historical fiction about the invention of the first typewriter! The thoughts and emotions that one might experience as one sinks into blindness are poignantly laid out. Little details that would never have occurred to me are cleverly depicted: Someone asks a question, but no reply is heard. That doesn't mean no reply was given! A head could have nodded in response. This is played out before your eyes. It gives you a punch in the gut. I have sighted just one example of many.
There are several main characters in the book. What each one says and does shows the reader each individual's particular temperament. Here follows just two examples:
"He was the first person she had spoken to outside her home since she lost her sight. For a moment shyness paralyzed her. Then she raised her eyes to what she guessed must be his face."
"'I'm much taller than you think.' T said. 'That's the third button of my shirt.'"
"Carolina lifted her eyes higher."
"'My Roman nose,' he said."
"She smiled and tried again." (page 98)
And on page 104.
"You are so beautiful. Who cares if you can see?"
One cannot help but smile at one person and grimace at another…… Me, I love Turri! I love his imagination and his belief in dreams. He gives the Contessa much more than just the first typewriter. You must read the story to find out what he gives her and also how the Contessa comes to live her life.
BUT: don't expect to read this book and get the details of the production of the first typewriters. This is NOT the purpose of this book!
March 7, 2013
I enjoyed the book overall. The writing was lovely, the main characters well-developed. However, I felt the characters at times acted in ways that stretched believability and I hated the ending. I'm glad I read it, as it was different, and interesting in that it portrays someone going blind, which I think it did well. Not sure I'd be reading more by her, though.
December 5, 2011
I was drawn to this book by both the juxtaposition of the title and its petit size. The dimensions being smaller than a typical paperback and at a scant 207 pages, it was a breeze. And after reading several behemoth fantasy books this summer, it was an especially welcome breeze.
The basic frame of the story is true: the invention of the first working typewriter by Pellegrino Turri for his blind love, the Countess Carolina Fantoni da Fivizzono. The writing is lovely and the love story bittersweet. As I read, I felt the languor of the summer days in the hot Italian countryside. And there is an elegant kind of panicked calmness in how Carolina’s descent into blindness is described. She starts by noting a row of trees by her favorite pond. As the darkness encroaches, she loses the trees on the ends until she sees just four trees, just two, one, and nothing.
I was interested in how Wallace describes others' reactions to Carolina’s blindness. My favorite would be when Caroline asks one of her servants to describe the pictures from her illustrated books. The maid takes advantage of Carolina’s condition and starts deviating from the printed images to describe wild flights of fancy: eight-foot tall purple birds with green tail feathers, for instance. Only Carolina had memorized the books while she still had her sight. She immediately recognizes the deceit, yet tenderly encourages the maid to continue and be more imaginative. Ah, I remember that bird. Remind me how many claws it has. As I was reading these sections, I remember remarking how cleverly done by Wallace. Just as Carolina cannot see this massive bird, neither can the reader. We share a common experience with Carolina – a blindness if you will – whenever we pick up a book and create the images in our head to accompany the words.
Its quietness can work against this book though. It is not very memorable. I would recommend it only if someone is in a very specific mood for a brief, saccharine detour.
The basic frame of the story is true: the invention of the first working typewriter by Pellegrino Turri for his blind love, the Countess Carolina Fantoni da Fivizzono. The writing is lovely and the love story bittersweet. As I read, I felt the languor of the summer days in the hot Italian countryside. And there is an elegant kind of panicked calmness in how Carolina’s descent into blindness is described. She starts by noting a row of trees by her favorite pond. As the darkness encroaches, she loses the trees on the ends until she sees just four trees, just two, one, and nothing.
I was interested in how Wallace describes others' reactions to Carolina’s blindness. My favorite would be when Caroline asks one of her servants to describe the pictures from her illustrated books. The maid takes advantage of Carolina’s condition and starts deviating from the printed images to describe wild flights of fancy: eight-foot tall purple birds with green tail feathers, for instance. Only Carolina had memorized the books while she still had her sight. She immediately recognizes the deceit, yet tenderly encourages the maid to continue and be more imaginative. Ah, I remember that bird. Remind me how many claws it has. As I was reading these sections, I remember remarking how cleverly done by Wallace. Just as Carolina cannot see this massive bird, neither can the reader. We share a common experience with Carolina – a blindness if you will – whenever we pick up a book and create the images in our head to accompany the words.
Its quietness can work against this book though. It is not very memorable. I would recommend it only if someone is in a very specific mood for a brief, saccharine detour.
March 12, 2019
Based on the true story of the blind woman who inspired the invention of the typewriter in the 19th century Italy.
Carolina Fantoni is losing her sight. At the age of 18, it is already advancing, “the trouble with focus at the borders of her vision.” Her grandmother died blind.
At the age of 6, she met Turri who was 16. They have become friends since then. Now, Turri is the only person who truly hears Carolina when she says she’s going blind.
Turri comes from a family of inventors and from the early age, he’s been coming up with different inventions. And that stood in a way of him finding a suitable partner to marry. “He was capable of ruining an entire dance, talking for hours about salt mines, constellations, metallurgy, lizards, with the innocent confidence of a child convinced that everyone else found the world as strange and fascinating as he did.” The only hope for suitable match was Sophia who had grown up wild and compromised her reputation, not that she cared for it.
Within a few months Carolina completely loses her vision. But at the same time she starts seeing in her dreams. At night she goes down the stairs and learns how to walk across the dining room around the furniture.
One day, her inventive friend Turri intorudces her to a typing machine, where each key correspondence with a letter of alphabet. This way she can write a note to her father or her friends.
As the story progresses, it also reveals the past of the characters what shaped them who they are. It is interesting. However, I was expecting the invention of the typing machine to be evolving with the story, but it was just introduced as him presenting it to her.
The author did a great job with imagining the characters, but it seems as she was afraid to do the same with the invention of the typing machine, which as the title indicates should be the main focus.
This is a small book. It is a quick read. The story doesn’t have a lot of dialogue, which I found nice for a change. But if you find dialogue as engaging part, then it may not be a read for you.
@FB/BestHistoricalFiction
Carolina Fantoni is losing her sight. At the age of 18, it is already advancing, “the trouble with focus at the borders of her vision.” Her grandmother died blind.
At the age of 6, she met Turri who was 16. They have become friends since then. Now, Turri is the only person who truly hears Carolina when she says she’s going blind.
Turri comes from a family of inventors and from the early age, he’s been coming up with different inventions. And that stood in a way of him finding a suitable partner to marry. “He was capable of ruining an entire dance, talking for hours about salt mines, constellations, metallurgy, lizards, with the innocent confidence of a child convinced that everyone else found the world as strange and fascinating as he did.” The only hope for suitable match was Sophia who had grown up wild and compromised her reputation, not that she cared for it.
Within a few months Carolina completely loses her vision. But at the same time she starts seeing in her dreams. At night she goes down the stairs and learns how to walk across the dining room around the furniture.
One day, her inventive friend Turri intorudces her to a typing machine, where each key correspondence with a letter of alphabet. This way she can write a note to her father or her friends.
As the story progresses, it also reveals the past of the characters what shaped them who they are. It is interesting. However, I was expecting the invention of the typing machine to be evolving with the story, but it was just introduced as him presenting it to her.
The author did a great job with imagining the characters, but it seems as she was afraid to do the same with the invention of the typing machine, which as the title indicates should be the main focus.
This is a small book. It is a quick read. The story doesn’t have a lot of dialogue, which I found nice for a change. But if you find dialogue as engaging part, then it may not be a read for you.
@FB/BestHistoricalFiction
December 23, 2018
2.5 stars
April 9, 2023
A privileged childhood, a wonderful friend, a doting father, her own cottage by the lake...what more could a girl ask for......Carolina's life was like a fairy tale come true. All was perfect until she knew something was wrong with her eyesight...no one believed her, but she knew she was going blind. No one except Turri her childhood friend that is...he believed everything she said.
He told her that she would be totally blind by New Year's Day....she didn't want to accept it would happen, but Turri was correct as usual. New Year's Day was when it happened.
Carolina's days were never ending. The nights were better because she was able to see again in her dreams, but all remained dark the minute she woke up. She began to roam the house at night feeling for familiar things. What was frightening about her nightly roaming was she would hear footsteps that would stop when she stopped and doors that kept creaking in various rooms. Then one day Carolina HAD to see Turri, and she made her way to the lake and the cottage where she and Turri had always met. Right after the trip to the lake, whenever she tried to leave the house, she but wasn't able to get out...the door was locked.
One night while she roamed, she chased someone into the basement and found a surprise. The following day Turri visited her with another surprise....a writing machine....she could now type out notes to friends without spilling ink everywhere, and most importantly she could write to Turri..
The book turned from a story about a girl held prisoner by her blindness and her husband to a mystery about the characters and the person who roamed the house at night.
I enjoyed the book…it was a heartwarming read even though the blindness factor was distressing.
I would recommend reading it while wrapped up in a blanket on a cold, winter’s night next to the warm fireplace. 5/5
He told her that she would be totally blind by New Year's Day....she didn't want to accept it would happen, but Turri was correct as usual. New Year's Day was when it happened.
Carolina's days were never ending. The nights were better because she was able to see again in her dreams, but all remained dark the minute she woke up. She began to roam the house at night feeling for familiar things. What was frightening about her nightly roaming was she would hear footsteps that would stop when she stopped and doors that kept creaking in various rooms. Then one day Carolina HAD to see Turri, and she made her way to the lake and the cottage where she and Turri had always met. Right after the trip to the lake, whenever she tried to leave the house, she but wasn't able to get out...the door was locked.
One night while she roamed, she chased someone into the basement and found a surprise. The following day Turri visited her with another surprise....a writing machine....she could now type out notes to friends without spilling ink everywhere, and most importantly she could write to Turri..
The book turned from a story about a girl held prisoner by her blindness and her husband to a mystery about the characters and the person who roamed the house at night.
I enjoyed the book…it was a heartwarming read even though the blindness factor was distressing.
I would recommend reading it while wrapped up in a blanket on a cold, winter’s night next to the warm fireplace. 5/5
July 30, 2010
CCarey Wallace's debut novel The Blind Contessa's New Machine, knocked my socks off.... until the last few pages. Starting at the beginning, beautiful young Carolina Fantoni is the daughter of a wealthy count, living lavishly in their Italian country villa. Carolina is loved by her family and pampered by her papa for her every whim. He builds her a fairytale cottage in the nearby woods, a cozy one room shelter to be her secret hideaway of escape when she wishes to lazily dream the days away surrounded by nature and animals of the forest. Throughout her childhood she is visited by a man named Turri, older than Carolina but an interesting friend and companion with many similar ideas and thoughts as herself. He is a bit fanciful, an inventor, a Victorian Leonardo Da Vinci. They share similar dreams for the future and both have vivid imaginations to create a storybook life around them that helps them leave behind the problems of the world, and step outside to live in an imaginary world similar to Alice when she fell down the rabbit hole.
Carolina is at the age where she is eligible for marriage; Turri has become engaged to a beautiful woman named Sophia. Carolina's father finds her a match in a local sought after paramour named Pietro. As their courting begins Carolina becomes fraught with fear as she realizes she is losing her sight, and will unfortunately go blind as her grandmother did. She warns Pietro before they marry that she is going blind, but her alert goes unheeded and he believes she is joking. As time passes Pietro and Carolina marry, as do Turri and Sophia. As the two couples begin their lives, Carolina's sight begins to dwindle rapidly until one day she wakes up in complete darkness. Her family is shocked, Pietro is stunned having never believed her warning. The only person to offer her kindness and friendship is Turri, who out of pity for her disability, invents the worlds' first typewriter so that she can now communicate with her family and friends, sending letters to them informing them of weekly news. She also uses this invention to communicate with Turri in secret when they themselves begin a passionate liason. But there is another story within this charming fairytale. A sinister presence in Carolina's house is often heard lurking nearby, footsteps prowl in the dark while Carolina sleeps, whispers and movements of cool air brush by her without her sight to reveal the mysterious stalker. The gothic suspense tale spun within this enchanting story of tragedy and romance will have all lovers of literary gems totally immersed for hours.
The writing is exquisite, the poetic prose is so beautiful that every paragraph will make you weep in awe of the sweet and tender imaginary world the author creates behind Carolina, Pietro and Turri. In a lush setting of 1800 Italy, Carey Wallace's story flutters on gossamer wings as it fly's off the page like a butterfly in flight searching for wonders of the world. Her character development is adept, her storyline was creative and accomplished. Everything about this novel had me enthralled and ready to give it a glowing review of 5 stars, until I got to the end and the story fell apart.
The last few pages revealing the story's grand finale, was so shockingly weak, I just felt like throwing the book across the room out an open window! How an author could lovingly pen such a sensational evocative emotional story that would open any readers' heart to the wonder of the imagination and end it so badly is beyond me. The ending was beyond lame, and so ineffective that my rating dipped down to a mere 3.5 stars. I was highly disappointed and am still in shock. It's almost as if the author didn't know how to end it and just took the easy way out. It was in my eyes, so close to being an award winner and I rather doubt now that readers will like this ending anymore than I did. An unfortunate let down in my opinion.
Carolina is at the age where she is eligible for marriage; Turri has become engaged to a beautiful woman named Sophia. Carolina's father finds her a match in a local sought after paramour named Pietro. As their courting begins Carolina becomes fraught with fear as she realizes she is losing her sight, and will unfortunately go blind as her grandmother did. She warns Pietro before they marry that she is going blind, but her alert goes unheeded and he believes she is joking. As time passes Pietro and Carolina marry, as do Turri and Sophia. As the two couples begin their lives, Carolina's sight begins to dwindle rapidly until one day she wakes up in complete darkness. Her family is shocked, Pietro is stunned having never believed her warning. The only person to offer her kindness and friendship is Turri, who out of pity for her disability, invents the worlds' first typewriter so that she can now communicate with her family and friends, sending letters to them informing them of weekly news. She also uses this invention to communicate with Turri in secret when they themselves begin a passionate liason. But there is another story within this charming fairytale. A sinister presence in Carolina's house is often heard lurking nearby, footsteps prowl in the dark while Carolina sleeps, whispers and movements of cool air brush by her without her sight to reveal the mysterious stalker. The gothic suspense tale spun within this enchanting story of tragedy and romance will have all lovers of literary gems totally immersed for hours.
The writing is exquisite, the poetic prose is so beautiful that every paragraph will make you weep in awe of the sweet and tender imaginary world the author creates behind Carolina, Pietro and Turri. In a lush setting of 1800 Italy, Carey Wallace's story flutters on gossamer wings as it fly's off the page like a butterfly in flight searching for wonders of the world. Her character development is adept, her storyline was creative and accomplished. Everything about this novel had me enthralled and ready to give it a glowing review of 5 stars, until I got to the end and the story fell apart.
The last few pages revealing the story's grand finale, was so shockingly weak, I just felt like throwing the book across the room out an open window! How an author could lovingly pen such a sensational evocative emotional story that would open any readers' heart to the wonder of the imagination and end it so badly is beyond me. The ending was beyond lame, and so ineffective that my rating dipped down to a mere 3.5 stars. I was highly disappointed and am still in shock. It's almost as if the author didn't know how to end it and just took the easy way out. It was in my eyes, so close to being an award winner and I rather doubt now that readers will like this ending anymore than I did. An unfortunate let down in my opinion.
August 5, 2014
Description: An iridescent jewel of a novel that proves love is the mother of invention
In the early 1800s, a young Italian contessa, Carolina Fantoni, realizes she is going blind shortly before she marries the town's most sought-after bachelor. Her parents don't believe her, nor does her fiancé. The only one who understands is the eccentric local inventor and her longtime companion, Turri.
When her eyesight dims forever, Carolina can no longer see her beloved lake or the rich hues of her own dresses. But as darkness erases her world, she discovers one place she can still see-in her dreams. Carolina creates a vivid dreaming life, in which she can not only see, but also fly, exploring lands she had never known.
Desperate to communicate with Carolina, Turri invents a peculiar machine for her: the world's first typewriter. His gift ignites a passionate love affair that will change both of their lives forever.
Dedication:
Opening quote:
Opening: ON THE DAY Contessa Carolina Fantoni was married, only one other living person knew that she was going blind, and he was not her groom.
This was not because she had failed to warn them.
“I am going blind,” she had blurted to her mother, in the welcome dimness of the family coach, her eyes still bright with tears from the searing winter sun. By this time, her peripheral vision was already gone. Carolina could feel her mother take her hand, but she had to turn to see her face. When she did, her mother kissed her, her own eyes full of pity.
“I have been in love, too,” she said, and looked away.
A tale as pure as the driven snow, and do you know what is even better? - The Blind Contessa's New Machine is a fictionalised account of a real breakthrough in the printed word. From A Brief History of Typewriters:
Loc 24/129: 'The summer that Turri began to visit her lake, when she was sixteen, Carolina had no reason to believe that she was a favorite with Pietro. But she had several well-worn bits of hope.'
Charmingly envisaged without playing to heavy romantic conjecture, this is a lovely short read. Three prototype typewriters that aid the blind.
In the early 1800s, a young Italian contessa, Carolina Fantoni, realizes she is going blind shortly before she marries the town's most sought-after bachelor. Her parents don't believe her, nor does her fiancé. The only one who understands is the eccentric local inventor and her longtime companion, Turri.
When her eyesight dims forever, Carolina can no longer see her beloved lake or the rich hues of her own dresses. But as darkness erases her world, she discovers one place she can still see-in her dreams. Carolina creates a vivid dreaming life, in which she can not only see, but also fly, exploring lands she had never known.
Desperate to communicate with Carolina, Turri invents a peculiar machine for her: the world's first typewriter. His gift ignites a passionate love affair that will change both of their lives forever.
Dedication:
for my mother: your trip to Italy
Opening quote:
'Until morning comes say of the blind bird: His feet are netted with darkness, or he flies His heart’s distance in the darkness of his eyes.'— Wendell Berry, “Elegy"
Opening: ON THE DAY Contessa Carolina Fantoni was married, only one other living person knew that she was going blind, and he was not her groom.
This was not because she had failed to warn them.
“I am going blind,” she had blurted to her mother, in the welcome dimness of the family coach, her eyes still bright with tears from the searing winter sun. By this time, her peripheral vision was already gone. Carolina could feel her mother take her hand, but she had to turn to see her face. When she did, her mother kissed her, her own eyes full of pity.
“I have been in love, too,” she said, and looked away.
A tale as pure as the driven snow, and do you know what is even better? - The Blind Contessa's New Machine is a fictionalised account of a real breakthrough in the printed word. From A Brief History of Typewriters:'But the first typewriter proven to have worked was built by the Italian Pellegrino Turri in 1808 for his blind friend Countess Carolina Fantoni da Fivizzano; unfortunately, we do not know what the machine looked like, but we do have specimens of letters written by the Countess on it. (For details, see Michael Adler's excellent 1973 book The Writing Machine. Carey Wallace's 2010 novel The Blind Contessa's New Machine is based on the relationship between the Countess and Turri.)'
Loc 24/129: 'The summer that Turri began to visit her lake, when she was sixteen, Carolina had no reason to believe that she was a favorite with Pietro. But she had several well-worn bits of hope.'
Charmingly envisaged without playing to heavy romantic conjecture, this is a lovely short read. Three prototype typewriters that aid the blind.
August 2, 2010
Reading The Blind Contessa's New Machine began as a purely I-love-the-cover choice. Isn't that a lovely cover? I'm a bit of a sucker for floral patterns. They might not make me purchase a book but they will always make me pick one up to look at. As usual judging a book by it's cover worked out fine, my friend. So much for what your Mother tells you.
There is the kernel of a true story in Contessa. A kind of prehistoric typewriter was created in Italy in the early 1800's for a blind woman to use as a means of communication. From that slim start author Carey Wallace has written an enchanting love story.
The Contessa is Carolina Fantoni. The town beauty, Carolina has been indulged by her parents all her life. Like almost all historical fiction heroines she has grown up to be intelligent and independent. It is fitting that she will marry the prize of the town, Pietro. As her wedding approaches Carolina realizes that she is going blind. Her parents, her fiance, none of them think that it could possibly be true. It's love, it's a momentary anomaly, it's anything but what it really is. The only person who believes her is her is childhood friend Turri. Before the end of her first year as a wife Carolina is blind.
The best parts of this novel concern Carolina's blindness. Her initial panic and bewilderment. Then her acceptance and efforts to live a productive and fulfilled life. It's fascinating. This is where the author's research and writing skills really pay off. You can understand what a tragedy this is and you know that if it weren't for Carolina's rank her life would have ended with her sight.
In an effort to stay in touch with Carolina, Turri invents the typewriter. With this 'communication machine' she will be able to write letters. She will be able to have a small private space in her life. Turri's eccentric spirit and support are the solace of Carolina's life and soon they are lovers. Of course in any time love triangles and infidelity are dangerous but in historical novels especially they can be deadly.
Wallace has written a surprising fairy tale with it's own humor, darkness and sensuality. Her characters are plausible and charismatic. The Blind Contessa's New Machine can at times be a little married to it's own charm but overall Wallce should be praised for bringing such a light touch to the usual grim detail of historical fiction.
Another marvelous thing about Contessa is that it reminded me of one of my favorite novels ever The Silent Duchess by Dacia Maraini. A gorgeously written novel about an 18th century Duchess who has been blind and mute (for mysterious reasons) since childhood. Duchess is one of the novels that made me fall in love with historical fiction. The writing is superb and account of life at that time is outstanding.
There is the kernel of a true story in Contessa. A kind of prehistoric typewriter was created in Italy in the early 1800's for a blind woman to use as a means of communication. From that slim start author Carey Wallace has written an enchanting love story.
The Contessa is Carolina Fantoni. The town beauty, Carolina has been indulged by her parents all her life. Like almost all historical fiction heroines she has grown up to be intelligent and independent. It is fitting that she will marry the prize of the town, Pietro. As her wedding approaches Carolina realizes that she is going blind. Her parents, her fiance, none of them think that it could possibly be true. It's love, it's a momentary anomaly, it's anything but what it really is. The only person who believes her is her is childhood friend Turri. Before the end of her first year as a wife Carolina is blind.
The best parts of this novel concern Carolina's blindness. Her initial panic and bewilderment. Then her acceptance and efforts to live a productive and fulfilled life. It's fascinating. This is where the author's research and writing skills really pay off. You can understand what a tragedy this is and you know that if it weren't for Carolina's rank her life would have ended with her sight.
In an effort to stay in touch with Carolina, Turri invents the typewriter. With this 'communication machine' she will be able to write letters. She will be able to have a small private space in her life. Turri's eccentric spirit and support are the solace of Carolina's life and soon they are lovers. Of course in any time love triangles and infidelity are dangerous but in historical novels especially they can be deadly.
Wallace has written a surprising fairy tale with it's own humor, darkness and sensuality. Her characters are plausible and charismatic. The Blind Contessa's New Machine can at times be a little married to it's own charm but overall Wallce should be praised for bringing such a light touch to the usual grim detail of historical fiction.
Another marvelous thing about Contessa is that it reminded me of one of my favorite novels ever The Silent Duchess by Dacia Maraini. A gorgeously written novel about an 18th century Duchess who has been blind and mute (for mysterious reasons) since childhood. Duchess is one of the novels that made me fall in love with historical fiction. The writing is superb and account of life at that time is outstanding.
July 29, 2010
For a book that focuses on a blind contessa, this is an extraordinarily visual novel. It’s filled with vivid descriptions: afternoon sun streaming through the scarves in windows, stars that flare into full suns or disappear altogether, bright flashes of bird wings, wicks blazing in chandeliers, colorful marzipan fashioned into the shape of lemons, grapes, apples, and roses, glorious dresses in rich hues of blue watered silk with scarlett ribbons.
The beauty of The Blind Contessa is that the young author, Carey Wallace, shows us exactly what is lost when Carolina Fantoni, an eighteen year old Italian contessa, gradually loses her eyesight.
Her sight becomes a metaphor for the narrowing of her world in general. She becomes pledged to marry the town’s most handsome and wealthy bachelor, Pietro, who is good to her, but merely because of her exquisite beauty, not because of a meeting of the minds. It is her older married friend Pellegrino Turri, an eccentric inventor who enchants and engages her. Her mother cautions her: “After you are married…many things may happen. You will not speak of him. Neither will your husband, if he is a gentleman. Do you understand?”
As Carolina loses all sight, Turri creates the world’s first typewriter to help her communicate with the outside world and to build deeper intimacy with him; something that is fraught with anxiety since both are married to other people. A simple read reveals a love affair between two people whose very souls connect despite overwhelming odds – a lyrical, poignant revelation of love fulfilled despite difficult odds.
But a deeper read reflects that at its heart, The Blind Contessa’s true theme is the power of imagination: the invention of the typewriter (in historical fact, Turri did create this machine in 1808)…the ways our dreams compensate for what is lost in real life…and how our true vision is in our mind’s eye.
Carey Wallace writes, “As the summer wore on, Turri had developed the habit of asking her where they were each time they met. At the question, a vision always sprang up…hidden waterfalls, new gardens, unknown shores. Perhaps lured by these imaginings, her dreams had begun to return as well.” Interestingly, as Carolina loses her sight, she begins to see whole new and fascinating worlds – those of her own creation. Her unseeing eyes may be useless, but her mind is stunningly alive and able to create a smorgasbord of mind-pictures.
The author demonstrates a sure hand in her historical descriptions and a knowledge of the cost of encroaching blindness. Some characters need a little more back story, but all in all, this is a whimsical recreation of a forgotten time in history.
The beauty of The Blind Contessa is that the young author, Carey Wallace, shows us exactly what is lost when Carolina Fantoni, an eighteen year old Italian contessa, gradually loses her eyesight.
Her sight becomes a metaphor for the narrowing of her world in general. She becomes pledged to marry the town’s most handsome and wealthy bachelor, Pietro, who is good to her, but merely because of her exquisite beauty, not because of a meeting of the minds. It is her older married friend Pellegrino Turri, an eccentric inventor who enchants and engages her. Her mother cautions her: “After you are married…many things may happen. You will not speak of him. Neither will your husband, if he is a gentleman. Do you understand?”
As Carolina loses all sight, Turri creates the world’s first typewriter to help her communicate with the outside world and to build deeper intimacy with him; something that is fraught with anxiety since both are married to other people. A simple read reveals a love affair between two people whose very souls connect despite overwhelming odds – a lyrical, poignant revelation of love fulfilled despite difficult odds.
But a deeper read reflects that at its heart, The Blind Contessa’s true theme is the power of imagination: the invention of the typewriter (in historical fact, Turri did create this machine in 1808)…the ways our dreams compensate for what is lost in real life…and how our true vision is in our mind’s eye.
Carey Wallace writes, “As the summer wore on, Turri had developed the habit of asking her where they were each time they met. At the question, a vision always sprang up…hidden waterfalls, new gardens, unknown shores. Perhaps lured by these imaginings, her dreams had begun to return as well.” Interestingly, as Carolina loses her sight, she begins to see whole new and fascinating worlds – those of her own creation. Her unseeing eyes may be useless, but her mind is stunningly alive and able to create a smorgasbord of mind-pictures.
The author demonstrates a sure hand in her historical descriptions and a knowledge of the cost of encroaching blindness. Some characters need a little more back story, but all in all, this is a whimsical recreation of a forgotten time in history.
April 22, 2010
I had no idea that the type writer was invented for a blind woman by a man who loved her till I found this novel.
This is a very simple, short read. Carolina realizes she is going blind just before she marries Pietro. Both her parents and Pietro just shrug off her concerns, but the inevitable happens and Carolina's world finally goes completely dark. Turri, her childhood friend and neighbor fancies himself an inventor. He is also very much in love with Carolina and after she has a disastrous attempt with ink, he invents the type writer for her. (Note, it wasn't called a type writer yet..) Meanwhile, Carolina and Turri begin an affair. The big problem is they are both married to other people. What can become of this?
There is also a mystery involving mysterious footsteps Carolina keeps hearing. Upon inquiring as to who is there tho, no one responds.
I was about to give this three stars because there is one MAJOR killer about this book. The narrative does not SHOW the reader what's going, but TELLS the entire tale. The reader can never feel as tho they are there or involved in the story. As a result of its biography type feel, the story never comes alive. I was also irritated by the character Liza and her "reading lies." I found that just plain weird.
The ending took me by surprise tho (which is hard to do) so four stars.
This is a very simple, short read. Carolina realizes she is going blind just before she marries Pietro. Both her parents and Pietro just shrug off her concerns, but the inevitable happens and Carolina's world finally goes completely dark. Turri, her childhood friend and neighbor fancies himself an inventor. He is also very much in love with Carolina and after she has a disastrous attempt with ink, he invents the type writer for her. (Note, it wasn't called a type writer yet..) Meanwhile, Carolina and Turri begin an affair. The big problem is they are both married to other people. What can become of this?
There is also a mystery involving mysterious footsteps Carolina keeps hearing. Upon inquiring as to who is there tho, no one responds.
I was about to give this three stars because there is one MAJOR killer about this book. The narrative does not SHOW the reader what's going, but TELLS the entire tale. The reader can never feel as tho they are there or involved in the story. As a result of its biography type feel, the story never comes alive. I was also irritated by the character Liza and her "reading lies." I found that just plain weird.
The ending took me by surprise tho (which is hard to do) so four stars.
August 13, 2011
This is an unusual book that I wanted to like more than I did. It's a quick read, though I ended up skimming the excessive descriptions after a while. It's a very "writerly" book: the author clearly wanted to create lovely prose, and she succeeds. She conveys the experience of going blind in great detail & does so beautifully. But I felt distanced from the characters (who are isolated from each other), and this made me focus on getting through the book to see what happened rather than savoring the story. Other readers have described the book as a fairy tale, perhaps because the characters are fairly flat and do not seem to have complex relationships with each other. (The one exception is Carolina, in whose mind the narrator dwells; we understand her feelings, though they seem pretty muted given the fact that she goes totally blind while still in her teens.) But fairy tales have happy endings & this does not. It ends abruptly and jumps to an epilogue that takes place after the main characters have died. I guess this book was just not my cup of tea.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 30, 2018
★★★★½
Will review upon 2nd reading. Meanwhile, LT tags follow:
19th Century, 21st Century Literature, Fiction, American Literature, Literary Fiction, Historical Fiction, Blindness, Dreams, Books, Fantasy, Lies, Relationships, Love, Romance, Marriage, Infidelity, Adultery, Inventions, Inventors, Typewriter, Italy, Debut Novel, Rec'd by jnwelch, Rec'd by Chatterbox, Rec'd by cameling, New, Purchased from BookDepository, Acquired in 2011, Picked by luvamystery65, Picked for Me 2015, Read in 2015, Completed January 2015
Will review upon 2nd reading. Meanwhile, LT tags follow:
19th Century, 21st Century Literature, Fiction, American Literature, Literary Fiction, Historical Fiction, Blindness, Dreams, Books, Fantasy, Lies, Relationships, Love, Romance, Marriage, Infidelity, Adultery, Inventions, Inventors, Typewriter, Italy, Debut Novel, Rec'd by jnwelch, Rec'd by Chatterbox, Rec'd by cameling, New, Purchased from BookDepository, Acquired in 2011, Picked by luvamystery65, Picked for Me 2015, Read in 2015, Completed January 2015
November 18, 2021
There was a lot about this book that I really liked - wording, characters, storyline, romance, setting; however, the ending was so abrupt and felt so out of place with the rest of the book that it ended up sort of ruining my feelings on the book.
January 12, 2019
A beautiful little book. Not a word wasted. Compelling story & true - I think. I loved it.
March 7, 2021
The first 200 pages - rated as a 5
The last 8 pages - rated as a 1
The last 8 pages - rated as a 1
June 12, 2011
I'd like to set the tone for this review by quoting the (perfect) first paragraph of this book which immediately hooked me for it's beauty and its appeal. (You can read the entire first page at the author's website as well).
"On the day Contess Carolina Fantoni was married, only one other living person knew that she was going blind, and he was not her groom. This was not because she had failed to warn them. 'I am going blind,' she had blurted to her mother, in the welcome dimness of the family coach, her eyes still bright with tears from the searing winter sun. By this time, her peripheral vision was already gone. Carolina could feel her mother take her hand, but she had to turn to see her face. When she did, her mother kissed her, her own eyes full of pity. 'I have been in love, too,' she said, and looked away." (pg. 1)
The Blind Contessa's New Machine is a charming and elegantly told novel about a young woman, Carolina Fantoni, in 1800's Italy who realizes she is going blind. She exemplifies strong human spirit and courage despite virtually lacking the support most people would find essential to make it through something so drastically life-changing. She tries to tell her loved ones (including her fiance, Pietro), but they're all sadly dismissive of her and think she's making something out of nothing. Only one person really believes and understands her -- her childhood friend, Turri, from whom her mother has warned her against since he is married and it wouldn't be good to start any rumors. Years later Turri, with his predilection for invention and in an act of love, provides Carolina with a writing machine he's created so that she can write and communicate with the world.
This story is based on the true history of one of the first typewriters that was, indeed, made for an Italian woman who was going blind. This unique and compact story is full of such beautiful and lyrical prose that, if for no other reason, it should be savored for the writing alone. And Carey Wallace has such an enchanting style of storytelling with subtle humor (from Pietro's clueless-ness to the widespread jealousy over Carolina's writing machine) and alluring descriptions which are used increasingly as Carolina's sight fades more and more and her memories and dreams take on new significance. Here's an example:
"Silk whispered as it rose from her floor and sighed faintly when put to rest in her wardrobe. Cut-glass bottles of perfumes and cream clanked gently. The panels of her curtains brushed the floor as they were drawn open. Wind poured through the window, bringing with it the memory of the long green slope of the yard. The wind was bitingly cold; Carolina's mind instantly stripped the summer trees of their leaves and blanketed the gardens with snow." (pg. 82)
And in another example of her writing, this is a description of how enamored the girls are over a young Pietro.
"A girl could live for weeks on a single glance from him. His small compliments and offhand remarks formed a new scripture, and in breathless conversations and lonely, dream-drunk nights they built whole theologies from them. Any real attention paid to one girl -- two dances in an evening, a flower broken from a bush to decorate her dress -- was liable to elicit tears or bitter jealousy from the others, and in one case, a fit of fainting, although Pietro seemed blissfully unaware of the reason for the scuffle even as the unfortunate girl's father and brother carried her from the party. He thereby revealed a lack of self-consciousness about his own powers that only further endeared him to both the ladies and his friends." (pg. 25)
Throughout the course of The Blind Contessa's New Machine, the reader is taken on a journey with Carolina. In addition to being blind, Carolina deals with romance and a love triangle involving a passionate affair and a love that is, over time, unrequited on her part. The storytelling was intelligent and there was more to the story than what was on the surface -- though I have to admit there were moments when it went over my head... but that's due to fault of my own and not any of the author, and at least I recognized that. =)
The Blind Contessa's New Machine is a beautiful example of literary fiction that will find a place in your heart from the first paragraph. Check out this page on the author's website to see a copy of one of the first letters written on this real life typewriter as well as other information about herself and the book.
Taken from my blog at www.takemeawayreading.com
"On the day Contess Carolina Fantoni was married, only one other living person knew that she was going blind, and he was not her groom. This was not because she had failed to warn them. 'I am going blind,' she had blurted to her mother, in the welcome dimness of the family coach, her eyes still bright with tears from the searing winter sun. By this time, her peripheral vision was already gone. Carolina could feel her mother take her hand, but she had to turn to see her face. When she did, her mother kissed her, her own eyes full of pity. 'I have been in love, too,' she said, and looked away." (pg. 1)
The Blind Contessa's New Machine is a charming and elegantly told novel about a young woman, Carolina Fantoni, in 1800's Italy who realizes she is going blind. She exemplifies strong human spirit and courage despite virtually lacking the support most people would find essential to make it through something so drastically life-changing. She tries to tell her loved ones (including her fiance, Pietro), but they're all sadly dismissive of her and think she's making something out of nothing. Only one person really believes and understands her -- her childhood friend, Turri, from whom her mother has warned her against since he is married and it wouldn't be good to start any rumors. Years later Turri, with his predilection for invention and in an act of love, provides Carolina with a writing machine he's created so that she can write and communicate with the world.
This story is based on the true history of one of the first typewriters that was, indeed, made for an Italian woman who was going blind. This unique and compact story is full of such beautiful and lyrical prose that, if for no other reason, it should be savored for the writing alone. And Carey Wallace has such an enchanting style of storytelling with subtle humor (from Pietro's clueless-ness to the widespread jealousy over Carolina's writing machine) and alluring descriptions which are used increasingly as Carolina's sight fades more and more and her memories and dreams take on new significance. Here's an example:
"Silk whispered as it rose from her floor and sighed faintly when put to rest in her wardrobe. Cut-glass bottles of perfumes and cream clanked gently. The panels of her curtains brushed the floor as they were drawn open. Wind poured through the window, bringing with it the memory of the long green slope of the yard. The wind was bitingly cold; Carolina's mind instantly stripped the summer trees of their leaves and blanketed the gardens with snow." (pg. 82)
And in another example of her writing, this is a description of how enamored the girls are over a young Pietro.
"A girl could live for weeks on a single glance from him. His small compliments and offhand remarks formed a new scripture, and in breathless conversations and lonely, dream-drunk nights they built whole theologies from them. Any real attention paid to one girl -- two dances in an evening, a flower broken from a bush to decorate her dress -- was liable to elicit tears or bitter jealousy from the others, and in one case, a fit of fainting, although Pietro seemed blissfully unaware of the reason for the scuffle even as the unfortunate girl's father and brother carried her from the party. He thereby revealed a lack of self-consciousness about his own powers that only further endeared him to both the ladies and his friends." (pg. 25)
Throughout the course of The Blind Contessa's New Machine, the reader is taken on a journey with Carolina. In addition to being blind, Carolina deals with romance and a love triangle involving a passionate affair and a love that is, over time, unrequited on her part. The storytelling was intelligent and there was more to the story than what was on the surface -- though I have to admit there were moments when it went over my head... but that's due to fault of my own and not any of the author, and at least I recognized that. =)
The Blind Contessa's New Machine is a beautiful example of literary fiction that will find a place in your heart from the first paragraph. Check out this page on the author's website to see a copy of one of the first letters written on this real life typewriter as well as other information about herself and the book.
Taken from my blog at www.takemeawayreading.com
January 24, 2012
An enchanting, whimsical read of two lovers who find solace in one another; Carolina as Turri's only audience to his endless quest and experiments for answers about the workings of his surroundings and him as her anchor and eyes when her world darkens. As Carolina slowly goes blind, Turri, her childhood friend, invents a writing machine akin to a typewriter for Carolina so she can remain connected with the world around her. Carolina and Turri are two like-minded characters with a strong penchant for unusual knickknacks that their circle of family and friends see as odd. They have an understanding of one another that other characters in the story do not relate to and fuel each others' curiosities about the inner workings of objects and for how the world they inhabit works. As Carolina's eyesight slowly worsens from blurry images to utter darkens, it is Turri who understands her needs to escape into the dreams she recounts for him. When the story brings the two together in a passionate love affair, readers sense the need they have for each other to bring comfort into their otherwise lonely existence.
Wallace's style of writing and the story itself is unusual and different, bordering on surrealism, from other historical fictions in a refreshing and airy manner. Her way of introducing the characters is very light but the personalities come through strongly as if readers have known and grown up beside the characters along with their quirky, eccentric personalities. As the story progresses, Wallace brings an additional layer into the story by taking readers into Carolina's dreamscape world where she escapes from the darkness; delving into lush, vivid landscapes of color and sound. This was a wonderful read and I look forward to many more books from such a dazzling author who weaves such magic with words.
Wallace's style of writing and the story itself is unusual and different, bordering on surrealism, from other historical fictions in a refreshing and airy manner. Her way of introducing the characters is very light but the personalities come through strongly as if readers have known and grown up beside the characters along with their quirky, eccentric personalities. As the story progresses, Wallace brings an additional layer into the story by taking readers into Carolina's dreamscape world where she escapes from the darkness; delving into lush, vivid landscapes of color and sound. This was a wonderful read and I look forward to many more books from such a dazzling author who weaves such magic with words.
November 1, 2012
This is a fictional treatment how of Pelligrino Turri may have come to invent a prototype of what eventually became the typewriter. Because his invention was designed to assist the blind, the author imagines a blind Contessa with whom this 1800's man of science fell in love.
Carey Wallace deserves credit for bringing attention to this breakthrough invention. There is some very good prose here. Particularly good writing is how the author describes how the Contessa, Carolina, loses her sight, how she came to be engaged/married to Pietro, and how she came to love the lake her father made.
The weakness of the book is the characters. Both Pietro and Turri are stereotypes; Pietro the handsome prince, Turri an early 19th century geek. Both give Carolina thoughtful gifts and have a chivalrous quality towards her. Carolina has no distinctive personality. They must love her for her beauty, and perhaps Turri also appreciates her curiosity. Her role in this book is that of a perfect princess, but her behavior plays against type with no explanation.
The ending is abrupt and also reflects the underdevelopment of the characters. For instance Antonio's last action is dramatic... why does he do this? We only know Antonio loves both his father and mother. He is drawn as obedient and respectful in his youth. We can imagine why he does this.... but no information is supplied by the author.
"The Silent Duchess", with a similar protagonist, taking place on an Italian estate in similar time, has rich characterization and depiction of the daily life. It might not be fair to Carey Wallace that was looking for something similar here. I don't mean to discourage readers, others have really enjoyed this book. There is an ethereal, fairy tale quality to it, a bad match for someone who likes realism in fiction.
Carey Wallace deserves credit for bringing attention to this breakthrough invention. There is some very good prose here. Particularly good writing is how the author describes how the Contessa, Carolina, loses her sight, how she came to be engaged/married to Pietro, and how she came to love the lake her father made.
The weakness of the book is the characters. Both Pietro and Turri are stereotypes; Pietro the handsome prince, Turri an early 19th century geek. Both give Carolina thoughtful gifts and have a chivalrous quality towards her. Carolina has no distinctive personality. They must love her for her beauty, and perhaps Turri also appreciates her curiosity. Her role in this book is that of a perfect princess, but her behavior plays against type with no explanation.
The ending is abrupt and also reflects the underdevelopment of the characters. For instance Antonio's last action is dramatic... why does he do this? We only know Antonio loves both his father and mother. He is drawn as obedient and respectful in his youth. We can imagine why he does this.... but no information is supplied by the author.
"The Silent Duchess", with a similar protagonist, taking place on an Italian estate in similar time, has rich characterization and depiction of the daily life. It might not be fair to Carey Wallace that was looking for something similar here. I don't mean to discourage readers, others have really enjoyed this book. There is an ethereal, fairy tale quality to it, a bad match for someone who likes realism in fiction.
May 30, 2013
SOME SPOILERS
This book was too disappointingly & infuriatingly loose & "cheap" at times to deserve the emotionally & visually charged writing making it up. Vague... More pointedly, this was a misleading title that felt forced up a VERY loosely framed, hodgepodge of Victorian Italy & sometimes more current times. I'm not a fan of romance novels; even classics like Jane Eyre with all of the doom & literal gloom was a considerable yawn for me.
In that, by its name, this book led me to expect the invention of the typewriter to be far more integral to the entire story. Instead, it ended up just being an enormous metaphor for a dull-to-mediocre life of a girl/woman who apparently the only TRULY interesting thing that ever happened to her in her life is that she went blind... Even my phone just tried to insist "blonds" have more fun.
It's a terrible shame that Wallace tried to force some elements for the sake of mystery or depth or just something more intriguing than the exquisitely visual imaginings of a blind girl & her inexplicably SELECTED, highly creative, turncoat, creeper maid. It was sometimes difficult for me to pinpoint the exact elements that annoyed or just broke rhythm or fiction-sense for me, but to be honest, I read this with only vague expectations & forcefully without my usual compulsive habit of reading EVERYTHING closely. I think now that the reason I wanted to hurl this book at a wall is because Wallace's feel for details & a few other elements of writing, as well as her editors, have some much greater potential than this sad presentation (literally- & craftily-speaking at times). Now I almost feel REQUIRED to return to some of my in-progress, heavier reads to wash the taste out of my mind's mouth.
Two stars for potential & having the good sense to employee decent line editor(s). Negative three for all I feel cheated of after reading this.
This book was too disappointingly & infuriatingly loose & "cheap" at times to deserve the emotionally & visually charged writing making it up. Vague... More pointedly, this was a misleading title that felt forced up a VERY loosely framed, hodgepodge of Victorian Italy & sometimes more current times. I'm not a fan of romance novels; even classics like Jane Eyre with all of the doom & literal gloom was a considerable yawn for me.
In that, by its name, this book led me to expect the invention of the typewriter to be far more integral to the entire story. Instead, it ended up just being an enormous metaphor for a dull-to-mediocre life of a girl/woman who apparently the only TRULY interesting thing that ever happened to her in her life is that she went blind... Even my phone just tried to insist "blonds" have more fun.
It's a terrible shame that Wallace tried to force some elements for the sake of mystery or depth or just something more intriguing than the exquisitely visual imaginings of a blind girl & her inexplicably SELECTED, highly creative, turncoat, creeper maid. It was sometimes difficult for me to pinpoint the exact elements that annoyed or just broke rhythm or fiction-sense for me, but to be honest, I read this with only vague expectations & forcefully without my usual compulsive habit of reading EVERYTHING closely. I think now that the reason I wanted to hurl this book at a wall is because Wallace's feel for details & a few other elements of writing, as well as her editors, have some much greater potential than this sad presentation (literally- & craftily-speaking at times). Now I almost feel REQUIRED to return to some of my in-progress, heavier reads to wash the taste out of my mind's mouth.
Two stars for potential & having the good sense to employee decent line editor(s). Negative three for all I feel cheated of after reading this.
August 18, 2010
I loved this book and hated it all at the same time. It is a beautiful confession written in such a way that that you feel as if you are watching the whole story through a snow globe. That distance combined with Wallace’s wonderful way with words give this slim volume the enchantment of a fairy tale. There is a surreal feel to the characters that could only exist in such story, at once beloved but unattainable. The Blind Contessa’s New Machine is the story of a young woman who is going blind. The novel pays meticulous attention to what she can and can not see painting for the reader lavish and sometime fanciful watercolors of words as the Contessa moves about both in the waking world and that of her dreams. There is only one soul who seems to understand her – his is a long time friend and fellow dreamer a few years her senior. They both seem to have an easy acceptance of the others eccentricities, and would seem a match except that he is married and she is about to be. I finished this novel with a notebook full of quotes that had to added to my collection and a general dissatisfy feeling as I wanted this to be the fairy tale I’d felt it was in my mind and instead I got the mundane world ending that I suppose was enviable. I am far too much a romantic dreamer myself to be able to easily reconcile this things in my mind. I believe the author herself provided a quote that captures a bit of the feeling I had when I turned the last page.
“She found herself wishing for the Pietro her heart had constructed over the previous years: sure-footed, understanding, and fearless, to come rescue her from Pietro himself as he rambled on at her side. The wish made her dizzy.” P 47
September 20, 2010
Up until the last few pages I would have given it four stars. It was unusual, had a certain poetry to it, and created full characters in 207 pages, but the romantic in me felt cheated by the ending.
Eighteen-year-old Contessa Carolina Fantoni is going blind. It’s happening gradually and no one in her family believes her. After all, she’s always been slightly dreamy and odd; never preening and directing her attentions to marriage as do the other young women in her Victorian Italian setting. It’s to everyone’s amazement that Carolina ends up married to Pietro, the most eligible bachelor of their circle. Carolina’s real soul-mate is the eccentric inventor Turri, her childhood friend who is ten years her senior and now in an arranged marriage. He’s the only one who believes Carolina and the only one who takes action to free her from her encroaching darkness.
This slim debut novel has a beautiful fairy tale quality to the writing style as well as a gothic tone with things that go bump in the night. The fully-developed characters are not all black and white, and the fact that it is based on the true invention of the typewriter adds an interesting dimension.
As Carolina sinks into darkness and her freedom is restricted she begins to take flight in her dreams. Will this be enough to carry her through life? As Pietro gains more control over her and Turri gets caught up with his new family, will it have to suffice?
Eighteen-year-old Contessa Carolina Fantoni is going blind. It’s happening gradually and no one in her family believes her. After all, she’s always been slightly dreamy and odd; never preening and directing her attentions to marriage as do the other young women in her Victorian Italian setting. It’s to everyone’s amazement that Carolina ends up married to Pietro, the most eligible bachelor of their circle. Carolina’s real soul-mate is the eccentric inventor Turri, her childhood friend who is ten years her senior and now in an arranged marriage. He’s the only one who believes Carolina and the only one who takes action to free her from her encroaching darkness.
This slim debut novel has a beautiful fairy tale quality to the writing style as well as a gothic tone with things that go bump in the night. The fully-developed characters are not all black and white, and the fact that it is based on the true invention of the typewriter adds an interesting dimension.
As Carolina sinks into darkness and her freedom is restricted she begins to take flight in her dreams. Will this be enough to carry her through life? As Pietro gains more control over her and Turri gets caught up with his new family, will it have to suffice?
August 27, 2010
This was a strange book to review. Up until the last chapter I would have rated it at least a 4 and maybe a 5; but the ending was so anti-climatic that my rating fell. Maybe it is the curse of being a first time novelist, but I was disappointed with it.
Things I liked:
1. Wonderful word pictures. The author's ability to make you feel a part of what is happening with wonderful descriptions.
2. The stark difference between the way Carolina's husband, Pietro, acts around her and talks to her compared to her friend Turri. While Pietro basically says, "You can't see it anyway", Turri describes to her what he sees in great detail.
3. Likable characters that weren't one-dimensional.
4. Carolina was a strong, independant woman who did not let her blindness define her.
5. The scenes with the lovers were well written and left the rest to your imagination.
Things I didn't like:
1. Anti-climatic ending.
2. I would have liked some notes in the back citing sources for the story - which parts were facts.
3. I was bugged by the fact that although Carolina and Turri are having an affair, when Pietro admits to his infidelity Carolina flies off the handle and condemns his actions. What a hypocrite!
I hope that Ms. Wallace continues to write because based on the writing style in this book [barring the ending:] I would probably read additional works from her.
Things I liked:
1. Wonderful word pictures. The author's ability to make you feel a part of what is happening with wonderful descriptions.
2. The stark difference between the way Carolina's husband, Pietro, acts around her and talks to her compared to her friend Turri. While Pietro basically says, "You can't see it anyway", Turri describes to her what he sees in great detail.
3. Likable characters that weren't one-dimensional.
4. Carolina was a strong, independant woman who did not let her blindness define her.
5. The scenes with the lovers were well written and left the rest to your imagination.
Things I didn't like:
1. Anti-climatic ending.
2. I would have liked some notes in the back citing sources for the story - which parts were facts.
3. I was bugged by the fact that although Carolina and Turri are having an affair, when Pietro admits to his infidelity Carolina flies off the handle and condemns his actions. What a hypocrite!
I hope that Ms. Wallace continues to write because based on the writing style in this book [barring the ending:] I would probably read additional works from her.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 11, 2016
Oof, this book. So much potential! So much promise! It's a debut novel, and I want to tell you it's an impressive debut, because it really is SO beautiful in so many places. But it's terrifyingly incomplete in others. Namely, the ending. And it fails in huge places long before then, like in telling a complete story AND providing the main protagonist we're supposed to care about (We are supposed to care, right? Otherwise, what are we doing here?) with some self-worth and more than one sad dimension. Watching Carolina be overrun by the men in her life over and over and over again is a ridiculous use of a book. If that's what actually historically happened, fine (and: UGH), but readers deserve more closure than the literary equivalent of *SPOILERS FORTHCOMING IF YOU CARE* "And then her cheating/statutory-digging husband kidnapped her away to somewhere and she might have continued writing letters, and she might not, and she might have been happy or she might have been living locked in a literal closet, or she might have taken revenge on her husband with candle wax, BUT I'M NOT TELLING YOU A DAMN THING EXCEPT THAT THEY ALL EVENTUALLY GOT OLD AND DIED SO TAKE THAT, SUCKERS."
[Two stars for some seriously pretty passages, but I need my female protagonists to STAND UP AND USE THEIR WORDS, ALREADY.]
[Two stars for some seriously pretty passages, but I need my female protagonists to STAND UP AND USE THEIR WORDS, ALREADY.]
December 29, 2012
This book's beautiful cover and it's tiny hardcover format made it irresistible....oh yeah and the story sounded delightful! It always surprises me when a debut novel is this wonderful and beautifully written. I wish that I had read it faster in order to have given the story the ability to lure me in but it didn't. It was a wonderful love triangle tale but I was hoping for many more dramatic moments and the author opted for a quiet, sensual telling of this blind contessa's forbidden love for the man she didn't marry and for the man that invented the typewriter so that she could communicate with him.
December 22, 2015
I'd say this was a 4.5* read for me. Loved the author's evocative writing style - she was really convincing as well, you could tell from the writing that the Blind Contessa's hearing and smell were heightened after having lost her sight. I thought each character's voice was clear and distinct. Just a great read all round. The only reason I didn't give it 5* was that I would've like a bit more detail about how the new machine came about, how it was created, the thought processes behind it etc. - it seemed only a minor part in the story but could've been interesting.
July 6, 2021
*Spoilers*
Well that ending was horrible. The worst. I was thinking I liked the book and I was really getting into it toward the end and then...are you kidding me? Do we really never get to find out what was in Turri's last letter to her? She really didn't even open it? They really never see each other again? Wow, the author really mishandled this one; I'm so disappointed.
Well that ending was horrible. The worst. I was thinking I liked the book and I was really getting into it toward the end and then...are you kidding me? Do we really never get to find out what was in Turri's last letter to her? She really didn't even open it? They really never see each other again? Wow, the author really mishandled this one; I'm so disappointed.
October 22, 2017
I love everything about this book: the characters that come to life, the elegant descriptions, the vibrant setting, the beautiful cover illustration and even the petite size of the book. This book grabbed my attention with the first sentence and I enjoyed reading it so much that I limited myself to reading it in short bursts. It's definitely a treasure chest worth opening!
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