Infinite Variety

t seems a curious injustice that one of the most artistically influential women in history should never have been the subject of a full-length biography. In the mid-1980's, an inaccurate and highly romanticised study of the Marchesa's life was published. And more recently released was a collection of correspondence and telegrams between Casati and D'Annunzio. But unlike those works, which were equally concerned with D'Annunzio and published only in Italy, the goal of Infinite Variety: The Life and Legend of the Marchesa Casati is to introduce Casati herself in a factually accurate manner to a global audience. For most of the last century, and now into the new millennium, her unique image has been on view in major museums, collections and special exhibitions worldwide. This fact alone proves her dominance as a significant muse in the arts comparable to the impressionists' Misia Sert; Man Ray's Kiki and Lee Miller; Andrew Wyeth's Helga and Virginie Gautreau, John Singer Sargent's 'Madame X'–each the subject of previously published biographies.

Written by noted journalists Scot D. Ryersson and Michael Orlando Yaccarino, all editions of Infinite Variety have been lavishly produced with a wealth of illustrations. Obtained from private archives, many of these are being reproduced here for the first time and have been painstakingly restored by The Casati Archives. This exhaustively-researched, family-authorised study includes a foreword by acclaimed wit, the late Quentin Crisp–who met Casati in London where she spent the final act of an altogether extraordinary lifetime. With the tremendous crossover appeal of its fabulous subject; sold-out status of its original, multi-award winning American hardcover and expanded British trade paperback editions; and extensive international press coverage, Infinite Variety has established itself as a literary sensation. And since its initial publication, the book has been cited internationally in many major art exhibit catalogues, biographical works and historical studies of fashion as the only source for complete and accurate information on the Marchesa Casati.

To further celebrate the release of Infinite Variety, Ryersson and Yaccarino have written an unforgettable one-woman dramatic presentation based upon it. The distinguished British actress Elizabeth Shepherd has already astounded sold-out audiences with Infinite Variety: Portrait of a Muse in New York City, Toronto and London with this special event.

In addition, it is extremely exciting to note that in 2003, Infinite Variety had been completely expanded and revised for its first two foreign-language editions–still available worldwide, these include the French-language version from Assouline (Paris), and the Italian-language version published by Corbaccio (Milan). Containing the authors' latest research discoveries on Casati and never-before-seen iconography of her, these critically-acclaimed editions immediately became the subject of even more important international media attention.

This was followed in 2004 with the publication of the eagerly-anticipated release of the new English-language edition of Infinite Variety by the University of Minnesota Press. Known as 'The Definitive Edition,' it is the most completely updated version of the biography to date.

In 2006, both the German-language, hardcover edition of the book from Haymon Verlag (Innsbruck) and the Russian-language version from Slovo (Moscow) were published.

In spring 2009, Random House Germany (btb) released the German-language, trade paperback edition.

And in 2009, The Marchesa Casati: Portraits of a Muse was published internationally by Abrams (New York) to tremendous critical and popular acclaim. This completely new, deluxe coffee-table book by Ryersson and Yaccarino is surely the ultimate homage to the subject in words and images.

So finally, it must be recognized that as a result of the continuous activity surrounding these books and related projects, the Marchesa Luisa Casati's position has been regained as an icon recognized worldwide whose life and legend is still astonishing new and future audiences.

READ QUENTIN CRISP'S FOREWORD TO INFINITE VARIETY

READ THE BACKSTORY TO QUENTIN CRISP'S FOREWORD