Together with the Austrian writer Günther Peer, the publisher is delighted about the new publication of the novel "The Forbidden Love of the Castrato". The novel deals with topics such as abuse of power and pedophilia in the church. Everything is set in early modern Italy. The author answered our questions.
With your new novel you deal with a topic that is very much part of social discourse today. What issues are at stake in the life of the choirboy Alessandro?
The 13-year-old youth Alessandro is brutally castrated in a monastery in order to preserve his beautiful voice, without knowing what consequences this will have for the rest of his life. The story also tells of the unspeakable suffering in a boarding school in Naples, where he was at the mercy of sadistic teachers, as well as the constant fear of whether he will succeed or not and what his future will look like. In the process, he becomes entangled in mistakes and has to realize that love is more important than fame and success.
What were your personal motivations for writing the novel?
I always kept in mind my personal experiences as a novice in a Benedictine order. The deprivations, the expectations the abbot had of me and, above all, the fact that I received no answers to my many questions. I should have trusted in God's grace. But I lacked the courage and insight to do so. And I too made mistakes, like Alessandro in my novel. Finally, with a heavy heart, I left the order.
How does Alessandro deal with the new challenges in the first years of his life as a castrato?
Alessandro is young, full of expectations of life, had no formal education, and only knew simple country life. That is why life surprised him and he did not really know how to deal with people and his feelings. He is curious, eager to learn, but is also aware of his unique voice and beauty, which he knew how to use. When he had learned to deal with it, he became aware of his serious mistakes and was broken by them.
Does he later develop strategies to deal with the remaining challenges?
Surprised by life and fame because of the uniqueness of his voice, he did not know how to deal with it. His only person of reference was Cardinal Albizzi, who had power, money and fame and "used" Alessandro for his own personal needs. Although the cardinal must be credited with genuinely loving the castrato. People who love do not have to justify it, even if their love is outside the norm.
What reaction do you expect from your audience when the novel is read out?
I think the listener and reader will be amazed by the detailed description of the spiritual life and the beauty of a love between two men. But above all, the characters that have been attributed to the main characters of the plot, the cardinal and the castrato, but also to other key figures, such as Monsignor Michele or Pope Urban.
Will the Papal Boys’ Choir enjoy a serial novel?
There is currently no sequel to the Papal Boys' Choir, but I will keep an eye on the topic and perhaps take it up again at a later date. However, I am already writing a new historical novel set in a 17th century monastery, where innocent, naive novices and bigoted monks are drawn into a game of intrigue. Above all, you will get to know interesting characters that you would not expect to find in a monastery. Personal experiences and events from my time in the monastery will flow into the story. The novel - entitled "Conspiracy in the Monastery" - will not lack in suspense or attention to detail.
The interview was conducted by Christian Leeck.
Wuppertal, September 2024.
Machine translated from German.
