Paris to Livorno (1868–73)

Abstract

This chapter focuses on Nissim Shamama's move to Livorno, Italy. By Mediterranean standards, Livorno is a modern city. For Jews, Livorno counted among the most famous havens in Christendom. By the time Nissim arrived in 1871, however, Livorno's fortunes had declined steeply; as the geography of trade shifted to different shores and more ports became “free,” Livorno was eclipsed as the Mediterranean's commercial jewel. After moving to Livorno, Nissim kept up an intermittent correspondence with his former colleagues at the Bardo, but his brief notes contained only platitudes and formulaic greetings. Looking at his last will and testament, it seems that Nissim was counting on Italian law applying to his estate—thus suggesting that in this instance at least, he thought of himself as an Italian citizen.