# Francesca Colonna — Albert Savarus character guide

> Francesca Colonna in Albert Savarus by Honoré de Balzac.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** cara Francesca, Colonna, Francesca Colonna, Povera Francesca, Francesca Soderini

**First appearance:** 0001-albert-savarus

## Snapshot

The Italian noblewoman Rodolphe loved in Florence, remembered in his novel as 'cara Francesca' and mourned as 'Povera Francesca.'

## Who they are

Francesca Colonna, later Francesca Soderini, is the woman at the center of the story Savarus cannot stop writing: a Florentine of high birth whose love for Rodolphe collided with her family's ambitions and her own duty. In the novel she is both beloved and lost, invoked with tenderness and reproach, and her memory shapes every choice Rodolphe makes afterward. She never appears in Besançon, yet she governs the emotional logic of the entire book.

## Relationships

### [Rodolphe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/albert_savarus_se/characters/rodolphe)

_romantic_

Francesca and Rodolphe are deeply in love, but their relationship is complicated by social and familial obstacles.

### [Princess Gandolphini](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/albert_savarus_se/characters/princess_gandolphini)

_rivalry_

Francesca and Princess Gandolphini are rivals for Rodolphe's love, leading to bitter conflict.

### [Gina](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/albert_savarus_se/characters/gina)

_friendship_

Francesca and Gina are close friends, with Gina acting as a confidante and supporter.

### [Albert Savarus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/albert_savarus_se/characters/albert_savarus)

_romantic_

Albert is secretly in love with Francesca, but their relationship is thwarted by Rosalie's interference.

### [Rodolphe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/albert_savarus_se/characters/rodolphe)

_romantic_

Francesca and Rodolphe are deeply in love, but their relationship is complicated by social and familial obstacles.

### [Rodolphe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/albert_savarus_se/characters/rodolphe)

_romantic_

Francesca and Rodolphe are deeply in love, but their relationship is complicated by social and familial obstacles.

### [Gina](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/albert_savarus_se/characters/gina)

_friendship_

Francesca and Gina are close friends, with Gina acting as a confidante and supporter.

### [Gina](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/albert_savarus_se/characters/gina)

_friendship_

Francesca and Gina are close friends, with Gina acting as a confidante and supporter.

### [Albert Savarus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/albert_savarus_se/characters/albert_savarus)

_romantic_

Albert is secretly in love with Francesca, but their relationship is thwarted by Rosalie's interference.

### [Princess Gandolphini](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/albert_savarus_se/characters/princess_gandolphini)

_rivalry_

Francesca and Princess Gandolphini are rivals for Rodolphe's love, leading to bitter conflict.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/albert_savarus_se/characters/francesca_colonna
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/albert_savarus_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/albert_savarus_se/characters