Book Description

In the glittering and ruthlessly competitive world of opera, Maria Callas was known simply as la divina: the divine one. With her glorious voice, instinctive flair for the dramatic and striking beauty, she was the toast of the grandest opera houses in the world. But her fame was hard won: raised in Nazi-occupied Greece by a mother who mercilessly exploited her golden voice, she learned early in life to protect herself from those who would use her for their own ends.

When she met the fabulously rich Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis, for the first time in her life, she believed she’d found someone who saw the woman within the legendary soprano. She fell desperately in love. He introduced her to a life of unbelievable luxury, showering her with jewels and sojourns in the most fashionable international watering holes with celebrities like Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton and the Duke and Duchess of Windsor.

And then suddenly, it was over. The international press announced that Aristotle Onassis would marry the most famous woman in the world, former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, leaving Maria to pick up the pieces.

In this remarkable novel, Daisy Goodwin brings to life a woman whose extraordinary talent, unremitting drive and natural chic made her a legend. But it was only in confronting the heartbreak of losing the man she loved that Maria Callas found her true voice and went on to triumph.

My Review

I have thoroughly enjoyed Goodwin’s other novels, and so I was very excited at the prospect of not only a new novel, but one that departs from the 19^th century. Admittedly, I was not overly familiar with Maria Callas before reading this book, but I went into the experience hoping to learn more about this famous diva.

The bulk of the book deals with her tumultuous relationship with Aristotle Onassis, which ended when he betrayed her by marrying Jackie Kennedy. There is very little time devoted to her ascension to stardom (although there are some flashbacks), and despite the allusions in the book description to moving on after the end of her relationship with Onassis, the book essentially ends with the breakup.

In short, Goodwin spins a tale of a fascinating woman who started with nothing and rises to the top of the opera world. The timeline is nonlinear, and the skips are utilized masterfully to heighten the dramatic tension—emphasis on the DRAMA! The prose is scintillating, but not particularly lurid. If this had been pure fiction rather than a fictionalized biography, then the breakup would’ve been an amazing plot twist. In that regard, having more knowledge than a character is always an interesting reading experience.

I would absolutely recommend Diva. Goodwin has proved, without a doubt, that she doesn’t need to confine her talents to the 19^th century sphere she has already mastered. This is a riveting portrayal of Maria Callas, and I am looking forward to reading Goodwin’s next book.

I received a digital ARC of this book from St. Martin’s/NetGalley.