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Imperial City

Rome under Napoleon

In 1798, the armies of the French Revolution tried to transform Rome from the capital of the Papal States to a Jacobin Republic. For the next two decades, Rome was the subject of power struggles between the forces of the Empire and the Papacy, while Romans endured the unsuccessful efforts of Napoleon’s best and brightest to pull the ancient city into the modern world. Against this historical backdrop, Nicassio weaves together an absorbing social, cultural, and political history of Rome and its people. Based on primary sources and incorporating two centuries of Italian, French, and international research, her work reveals what life was like for Romans in the age of Napoleon.
 

“A remarkable book that wonderfully vivifies an understudied era in the history of Rome. . . . This book will engage anyone interested in early modern cities, the relationship between religion and daily life, and the history of the city of Rome.”—Journal of Modern History
 

“An engaging account of Tosca’s Rome. . . . Nicassio provides a fluent introduction to her subject.”—History Today
 

“Meticulously researched, drawing on a host of original manuscripts, memoirs, personal letters, and secondary sources, enabling [Nicassio] to bring her story to life.”—History


256 pages | 54 halftones, 3 maps | 6 x 9 1/4 | © 2009

History: European History, General History

Reviews

"Nicassio is to be commended for the wide intellectual range and sophistication of her research. Her writing is direct, often witty, an refreshingly accessible. . . . A remarkable book tat wonderfully vivifies an understudied era in the history of Rome. . . . This book will engage anyone interested in early modern cities, the relationship between religion and daily life, and the history of the city of Rome."

Christopher M.S. Johns | Journal of Modern History

"[Imperial City] is meticulously researched, drawing on a host of original manuscripts, memoirs, personal letterrs, and secondary sources, enabling her to bring her story to life. . . . [The author’s]  prose is lively and entertaining, making it accessible to both scholars and a more general audience. . . . Probably the best work on the topic in print."

Jeremy Black | History Today

“Meticulously researched, drawing on a host of original manuscripts, memoirs, personal letters, and secondary sources, enabling [Nicassio] to bring her story to life.”

Wayne Hanley | History

Table of Contents

Preface

Cast of Characters

Chapter One: Urbe et Orbe: The City and the World

Chapter Two: The City

Chapter Three: The People

Chapter Four: Joys

Chapter Five: The Turning Year

Chapter Six: Sorrows

Chapter Seven: Money, School and Work

Chapter Eight: The New Regime

Chapter Nine: The Empire Versus God

Chapter Ten: Restorations

Bibliographical Essay

Bibliography

Index of Names

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