Another biography of a strong woman. This countess was really ahead of her time ( Nineteenth century Brazil) and the long standing mistress of the second and last Brazilian Emperor (yes, Brazil had two emperors!), D. Pedro II. The book is very well-written, short and sweet. What I loved the most about this woman was the fact that she said NO to an arranged marriage to her father's friend. In those days women had almost no option and arranged marriages to way older men were the norm. She managed to marry the man she wanted, but that didn't get in the way of nabbing the emperor's attention. Indeed, the victim of an arranged marriage was her lover, the emperor. He found in her a soulmate and confidant. She ended up being the governess of his children... Looks like a movie... But it was real.
A painting of an young Condessa de Barral, or Luisa
D. Pedro II, emperor of Brazil
Another biography of a strong woman. This countess was really ahead of her time ( Nineteenth century Brazil) and the long standing mistress of the second and last Brazilian Emperor (yes, Brazil had two emperors!), D. Pedro II. The book is very well-written, short and sweet. What I loved the most about this woman was the fact that she said NO to an arranged marriage to her father's friend. In those days women had almost no option and arranged marriages to way older men were the norm. She managed to marry the man she wanted, but that didn't get in the way of nabbing the emperor's attention. Indeed, the victim of an arranged marriage was her lover, the emperor. He found in her a soulmate and confidant. She ended up being the governess of his children... Looks like a movie... But it was real. 
A painting of an young Condessa de Barral, or Luisa
D. Pedro II, emperor of Brazil
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