All things old China - books, anecdotes, stories, podcasts, factoids & ramblings from the author Paul French

Coming in June to RTHK3 (& as a Podcast…) The Mad Marchesa of Peking

Posted: May 19th, 2025 | No Comments »

Sex, violence, suicide: love triangle scandal in 1920s Beijing that stained Italy’s reputation in China. A diplomatic love triangle ignited an international incident that embarrassed not just the Italian nobility but the country as a whole – and the story of the Mad Marchesa of Peking and her lovers…. I wrote the story some time back for the South China Morning Post weekend magazine (here), now it’s a four part audio for Hong Kong’s RTHK3 and a podcast…. more details to follow – the programmes will be broadcast and uploaded this June….

The Marchesa Durazzo
The Italian Legation, Peking, 1920s


Leave a Reply