How to Seduce Men
‘Confrontation is not my style. I have learned that watching is the more powerful weapon.’--Lucy Foley, THE PARIS APARTMENT There wasn’t much correspondence for me this week. There was only a letter from Sandra Donald (my cousin in the Mississippi prison). Of course, she has more time on her hands. She wrote in anticipation of St. Patrick’s Day:
Michael,
Forgive me for not writing any sooner. It is not that I don’t think of you. I just haven’t been in a writing mood.
I am now housed in “B” Building. A few of us got together and petitioned for a “NON-SMOKING” building.
Michael, “DO NOT” send me anymore stamps. March 15th was the last date we were allowed to receive stamps. Your letter will be returned if you do.
I've received two letters from Victoria Ortega, my half-sister. Have you heard from her lately? What about Herb, Alan’s friend? How old is Alan?
My son, Harmon Donald III and 12-year-old, Myles, my grandson, visited with me last Sunday. It was a beautiful day. The sun has finally warmed up and we, too, have been walking and enjoying the first signs of Spring. We had a nice visit.
Michael, please continue to write. I look forward to your letters and cards. I wish you could really understand how tired I am. Oh well, may God give us strength to hold on till we can meet.
I must mail these few lines. I am really feeling guilty that I have not written sooner. I promise to do better. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
My Love,
Sandra Donald
The best event of the week was going with Alan to the movies to see this film called DANGEROUS BEAUTY that was filmed in Rome and Venice, Italy. It was right up our alley: a steamy romance of passion, seduction and betrayal. It was quite scandalous. It was a biographical drama based on a true story from the book called THE HONEST COURTESAN by Margaret Rosenthal.
The movie starred English actress Catherine McCormack as Veronica. Veronica Franco is an adventurous, curious, slightly tomboyish young woman in Venice. Her love Marco (played by English actor Rufus Sewel), who will be a Senator like his father, cannot marry her because her family is too poor; he marries a foreign noblewoman instead.
Veronica's mother, Paola, played by actress Jacqueline Bisset, plans for her family's financial security, as she still requires dowries for her younger daughters and money for her son's commission. Rather than go to a convent, Paola suggests she become a courtesan, a highly paid, cultured prostitute like her mother and grandmother before her. At first Veronica is repelled by the idea, but once she discovers that courtesans are allowed access to libraries and education, she tentatively embraces the idea. She goes through the training her mother gives her. Veronica is shown how to seduce men subtly, even from afar.
Veronica quickly gains a reputation as a top courtesan, impressing the powerful men of Venice with her beauty, wit, and compassion. Marco finds it difficult to adjust to his new wife, who is nothing like Veronica, and becomes jealous as Veronica takes his friends and relatives as lovers.
As the plot twists and turns, Veronica is summoned to appear before the Inquisition on charges of witchcraft. Veronica refuses to name her clients so, when it appears that she will be executed, Marco publicly shames the Venetian ministers and senators into admitting their own adultery and sins by standing up in the assembly. Bewildered by the extent of sin in the city, the Inquisitor drops the charges of witchcraft. Marco and Veronica were lovers the rest of their days (so it had a good ending). I could see this film again and again. I loved going back in time to 16th Century Venice. The dialogue is witty.
“I am a courtesan. I am paid to make men believe they are loved.” -- Catherine McCormack as the courtesan, Veronica Franco, in the 1998 film, DANGEROUS BEAUTY
