Diva

A Novel

By: Daisy Goodwin

Narrated by: Lorelei King

"Lorelei King narrates the book, nicely handling the Greek and Italian accents...She also gives the pestilential, professional gossip Elsa Maxwell exactly the right note of intrusiveness and ravening schadenfreude. This is a big, tragic love story, made all the more affecting in its audio version by the inclusion of stirring musical passages from La Divina’s great roles."—The Washington Post

This program is read by award-winning narrator Lorelei King and includes a bonus conversation between the author and her singing teacher, soprano Josephine Goddard. It also contains music from Maria Callas.

"Listeners will have a grand time with Lorelei King's versatile narration of this fictionalized account of the life of famed opera singer Maria Callas. Listeners will feel as though they are globe-trotting alongside Callas as she performs in the classic opera houses of Europe and the U.S. King gives Callas a slightly detached, poised tone as she rehearses and performs, and socializes with the rich and famous of the 1950s and 1960s--including Elizabeth Taylor, Grace Kelly, and, of course, her longtime lover, Aristotle Onassis."—AudioFile

New York Times bestselling author Daisy Goodwin returns with a story of the scandalous love affair between the most celebrated opera singer of all time and one of the richest men in the world.

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.

Maria Callas's music courtesy of Warner Classics.

A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin’s Press.

©2024 Daisy Goodwin (P)2024 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

"I was blown away by Diva. Beautiful, visceral, tragic, gutting."—Miranda Cowley Heller, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Paper Palace

"The spectacular Daisy Goodwin has written Diva, an epic novel about Maria Callas in love that hits every note and soars off the page. You will root for Callas as she navigates her dynamic career and a love affair that will break her heart. Told with tenderness and power, this is bravura storytelling in the hands of a master."—Adriana Trigiani, New York Times bestselling author of The Good Left Undone

“Elegant, adult, ultimately very moving, Diva presents an amazingly convincing Maria, while always conveying the power of the majestic Callas myth.”—Laura Thompson, New York Times bestselling author of The Six: The Lives of the Mitford Sisters

Outstanding performance

Liked that Maria finally came to her senses regarding Onassis’ treatment of her - nothing to dislike

Wonderful!

The music! What a joy to listen to in addition to the narrative. Brava Diva

Excellent review of a remarkable woman

I did not know much about Opera and this was a bookclub selection. I enjoyed every chapter of the book, particularly on Audible with the musical excerpts. I knew the name Maria Callas, but really enjoyed learning her story. Whether you are an opera fan or not, this was the most enjoyable story.

Concern for voice

Interesting to learn about her life, timeline and bit rushed, smoother transitions would be helpful.

The narration is incredible!

I loved everything about this book, but the narration really made the story come alive. There is one thing I could do without and that’s the use of the F word. It’s use was gratuitous in the telling of this story.

Absolutely well done!

Beautiful, elegant and very enjoyable. Well written and beautifully narrated. Highly recommend it. Takes you back to another era.

overall summary of professional career

the book was interesting. I wanted to read it because the movie Maria didn't really meet my expectations. the author states that she read extensively about Maria's life before hand. she also studied with a teacher to learn to sing Maria's music to know first hand the challenges she had. I very much enjoyed Maria by Callas so this was in line with much of that.

Brava

This is revealing dive into the inner workings and feelings of the greatest voice of our time. Accurate or not, the fascinating and troubling life of an artist with such a strict regimen is very interesting.

Maria’s perk al growth

Well presented - written and read. What an interesting life she had. I enjoyed it very much.

Compelling.

Reader was great. Story packed in a lot of biographical and very interesting. Now I am so interested in getting the background out of all of these larger than life people in the 50s and 60s. Excellent read.