Diva by Daisy Goodwin

Simply fabulous! I was lucky enough to listen to the audiobook thanks to Netgalley and Head of Zeus Audiobooks, and it was such a treat! 

—Synopsis—

In the glittering and ruthlessly competitive world of opera, Maria Callas is known simply as la divina: the divine one. With her glorious voice, instinctive flair for the dramatic and striking beauty, she’s the toast of the grandest opera houses in the world. Yet her fame has been hard won: raised in Nazi-occupied Greece by a mother who mercilessly exploited her, Maria learned early in life how to protect herself.

When she meets the fabulously rich shipping magnate, Aristotle Onassis, her isolation melts away. For the first time in her life, she believes she’s found a man who sees the woman rather than the legendary soprano. Desperately in love, Onassis introduces her to a life of unbelievable luxury, mixing with celebrities like Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton and the Duke and Duchess of Windsor.

And then, suddenly, it’s over. The international press announce that Onassis will 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.

—Review—

When thinking about opera, is there anyone more famous, more magnificent than Maria Callas that comes to mind? 

Personally I can’t conjure up anyone that was such a legend! And yet I found myself realising that I knew very little of Maria Callas as a person, as a woman. 

Even if this book is a work of fiction, thanks to Daisy Goodwin’s gorgeous prose and research I was able to dive into La Divina’s psyche, what was driving her, her flaws, her extraordinary force. 

She was a fierce and powerful woman, a pioneer who merged her personal experience with her work, bringing to life her characters by drawing from her own feelings, transcending her voice and body, translating her profound quest for love into her performances. A true inspiration ! 

“And what is the secret to the great diva’s success I wonder? Maria lifted her chin “hard work, plenty of it and high standards. I don’t let anything obstruct my pursuit of excellence”.
You sound like a general said Onassis licking the caviar from his lips. Maria looked directly at him: Great Art is domination. It’s making people believe for that  precise moment in time there’s only one way, one voice, mine.”

The writing is exquisite, you can hear the words sing, the notes in each phrase, and in the audio version there are also pieces sang by Callas herself which makes the experience all the more immersive! 

The narrator is fabulous and brings a lot to the story, I personally think this was perfection as an audiobook, the best way to travel back in time and meet the greatest opera singer of all times. 

it’s out on 14 March 2024 so hurry up and get yourself a copy!

—About the Author—

Discover Daisy Goodwin’s website, bio and more at https://www.daisygoodwin.co.uk