Mary Pix, The Inhumane Cardinal, or, Innocence Betrayed

Gerd Bayer (Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg)

The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.2.1.05: English Writing and Culture from the Glorious Revolution to the French Revolution, 1689-1789.
Vol. editors: Paul Baines (University of Liverpool), Daniel Cook (University of Dundee), Pat Rogers (University of South Florida), Nicholas Seager (University of Keele)

Dates

First circulation or publication 1696

Places

England (Country of Origin)

Genres and Modes

Novel

Resources

This almost Gothic novel is set in Rome during the rule of Pope Innocent X, who is presented as a week, lazy, and even effeminate figure, dominated by the stratagems and political maneuvers of Donna Olimpia, his mistress. Both characters are based on their actual historical namesakes. As the protagonist of The Inhumane Cardinal, Olimpia is driven by her ambition to gain control over Antonio Barbarino, the cardinal from the novel’s title. She seizes the opportunity when Barbarino informs her of being infatuated with a young woman he had seen at church. He admits to be “raging mad with Love” (4), clearly lusting after Melora. Olimpia soon wins the trust of Melora’s single-parenting father and befriends young Melora, …

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1555 words

Citation: Bayer, Gerd. "The Inhumane Cardinal, or, Innocence Betrayed". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 03 January 2012 [https://staging.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=20621, accessed 21 November 2024.]

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