The Baroness of Carini: A Tale Of 16th-Century Sicily by Nigel Patten

VERO BEACH, Fla. - Sept. 8, 2026 - PRLog -- Historical Romance Blends Folklore, Sex & Violence

In Sicily, there is a popular folk ballad with countless variations, all written about Laura Lanza, a young woman in the 1500s who was forced into marriage at the age of 14.

Although Laura became the Baroness of Carini when she married, she was not a happy girl. Other than the date of her birth in Sicily, her forced marriage, her death in Carini Castle, and her eight children – six of whom were born out of wedlock – there is no documented proof she ever existed.

But balladeers continue to sing about her tragic life and her quest for sexual freedom in an oppressive society.

Rooted in a 1563 "honour killing," her story transitioned from a scandalous historical event into Sicilian folklore, making her a contemporary symbol of a woman who pursued her right to love and happiness in defiance of  the feudal system that forced her into an arranged marriage.

Bound to a man she detested, even though she loved another, this novel tells what could well have been her story. Was Laura's life fact or fiction?

About the Author: Born near London in 1940, a Swiss resident since 1961, and a Swiss citizen since 1980, for 53 years Nigel Patten taught English and literature at an international alpine lycée preparing French students for the baccalaureate. Since his retirement, he has published 15 books in English and French. For many years, he acted and directed for a theatre company, and for 18 years sailed his own yacht in Greece and Turkey. His trips have taken him to every country in Europe, the Middle East, Australia, and North America. He has climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro twice.

"Author Nigel Patten was motivated to write this book, because 'I am always attracted to unconventional characters like Laura Lanza, who don't behave as society dictates. The total lack of documented evidence was both an obstacle, but also a perfect occasion to use my imagination.'" – Lynn Eddy, VP of Acquisitions, Strategic Book Publishing

Publisher's Website: https://sbpra.com/nigelpatten/