More Marie

Spring 2008: A note from Laura: I am writing a book about the life, trial, and death of Marie Tarnowska (aka Maria Tarnovska). If you would like more information or have information to share, please send me an email.

Sto scrivendole un libro. Se avete informazioni sul caso, prego trasmettami un email.

J'écris un livre concernant elle. Si vous avez des informations sur le cas, veuillez m'envoyer un email.

What does a woman have to look like to inspire her many lovers to leave their wives, leave their children, stab themselves, shoot themselves, and murder one another?

Of all the sordid stories told on Clews this past almost-a-year, through the 30,000 hits on this site to date, one woman has been the biggest draw (and it ain't me).

It's Countess Marie Tarnowska, easily one of the world's worst women, whose sordid life has been cut and pasted all over the internet, who has generated more commentary and emails to your correspondent than any other bloody subject.

And it seems her legend lives on abroad. Some Clews visitors were impressed enough by her story to dig deeper, to figure out what she looked like.

It turns out that a Polish publishing company recently published a book about Marie Tarnwoska that has early photos of her on the cover. (And wouldn't you know it, I don't speak a word of Polish.)

A bar / meeting room in Italy has also been named for her. The place is called Tarnowska's American Bar, and it includes the Kamarovsky Room, after one of her victims. The establishment has posted its interior photos, along with a photo of the Countess.

So now you see her.

She has small, even features, thick, dark hair piled atop her head, and appears to be heavier than modern beauty standards would provide. This photo of her, turned aside, looking far off, doesn't tell you a dot about what must have been a mesmerizing personality. It had to have taken a helluva woman to inspire so much bloodshed.

She is best pictured, I think, while being quoted.

I am the most unfortunate woman in the world. I am a martyr to my own beauty. For any man to behold me is for him to love me. The whole pathway of my life is strewn with the bodies of those who have loved me most.

--Countess Tarnowska

Comments

[klipspringer]

Below the Polish presentation of the book it also says. "Original title: The Future will tell, Translator: Iwna Zofia Żółtowska". A lead?

[Brooke]

Laura,

Thanks for this fascinating piece! It was one of those I just had to dig into a little deeper on the net (as I explained in my earlier e-mail). I think the aspect that is most fascinatingis what exactly was it about Maria Tarnowsky that made so many men go 'mad' over her? By merely looking at her picture, the answer is not immediately forthcoming.

What she reminds me of is a work by a woman author whose names escapes me at the moment - possibly Maya Angelou - that expresses the intangible allure of a woman who though not necessarily physically attractive/beautiful in the 'usual' sense, has the self-possessed qualities of an inherent and confident sexuality, an air of mystery and seduction in the sway of her hips and the way she laughs uninhibited in her heart and soul. This type of woman has no doubt she has what every man wants and will have her choice of suitors lined up no matter her age.

It's such a shame I can't remember the exact passage (and if I happen to find it I will return to post it) because suspect this may explain the 'magic' of Maria Tarnowsky - that missing link we wonder about when reading her story.

All my best,
Brooke

[Brooke]

I stated in a prior post on February 17 my theory as to WHY so many men would sacrifice so much for Maria Tarnowsky. I also managed to remember the exact work by Maya Angelou that I was unable to recall at that time. It is a poem called "Phenomenal Woman" which I have copied and included for your reading pleasure. Thank you Laura for this opportunity to share such a wonderful work by another truly 'phenomenal woman'. :0)
Brooke

PHENOMENAL WOMAN
by Maya Angelou

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies
I'm not cute or built to suit a model's fashion size
But when I start to tell them
They think I'm telling lies.
I say
It's in the reach of my arms
The span of my hips
The stride of my steps
The curl of my lips.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally
Phenomenal woman
That's me.

I walk into a room
Just as cool as you please
And to a man
The fellows stand or
Fall down on their knees
Then they swarm around me
A hive of honey bees.
I say
It's the fire in my eyes
And the flash of my teeth
The swing of my waist
And the joy in my feet.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally
Phenomenal woman
That's me.

Men themselves have wondered
What they see in me
They try so much
But they can't touch
My inner mystery.
When I try to show them
They say they still can't see.
I say
It's in the arch of my back
The sun of my smile
The ride of my breasts
The grace of my style.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally
Phenomenal woman
That's me.

Now you understand
Just why my head's not bowed
I don't shout or jump about
Or have to talk real loud
When you see me passing
It ought to make you proud.
I say
It's in the click of my heels
The bend of my hair
The palm of my hand
The need for my care.
'Cause I'm a woman
Phenomenally
Phenomenal woman
That's me

[A.]

Actually, no: she had reddish blonde hair (blonde hair often looks dark on photos even today), and grey-blue eyes.
Needless to say, that alone doesn't account for her beauty (I only mentioned it to set the record straight ;)).

But I must disagree with the opinion - perfectly legitimate, of course - that she is not "immediately forthcoming"... Try to imagine her in 3D, with colour, sounds and all. (Scent too, while we're at it: she is supposed to have worn "L'Origant" - now you know..;))

These are my favourite pictures of her:

http://www.campiello-venise.com/recherches_dans_venise_09_04.htm

(The upper two, showing her stepping out of the gondola that brought her to the old courthouse in Venice.)

As for her *fascino*, as the Itlaians would say, do read Hans Habe's novel on her. It's the one thing that he perhaps conveys better than anyone else.

P.S. Couldn't we have a forum or "chat-room" to discuss her? ;)

[Laura]

The Polish book:
http://ksiazki.ojej.pl/porownanie-cen/prod_id_23432X481-CENA-TARNOWSKA-MARIA-WSPOMNIENIA.html

[Antyki]

Very recomendable book, i have it in Polish! Very nice!

[Printemps]

I have just contributed an article about her to Wikipedia. It's not my best, but I've seen many worse.

Unfortunately, it is a "candidate for speedy deletion", because the editors (I suspect they are about twelve - years old, I mean ;)) do not realise her "relevance".

Anyway, I just thought you'd like to know. ;)