Storace and Braham: Love and Reputation Unmade

In 1815, month prior to the public trial of tenor, John Braham (c.1774–1856), where he was accused of having Criminal Conversations with the wife of Mr Henry Wright, he and his long-term romantic partner, prima donna Anna Selina (Nancy) Storace (1765–1817) acrimoniously separated. The pair had been in a near 20-year long relationship, but had never married, possibly due to Storace having already been married to the abusive composer and violinist John Abraham Fisher. Unfortunately, at the trial the plaintiffs accused Braham and by extension Storace of having withheld the status of their relationship, with many assuming they were married. Though Storace had done no wrong, and in fact was the wronged, her reputation was heinously tarnished. Embittered, Storace and Braham required a mediator, Sir John Soane (1753–1857), to negotiate the separation of their assets. As such, details of their separation have been preserved in letters now held at the Sir John Soane Museum. These reveal the deep pain Storace felt in being betrayed by her lover as well as having much reputational damage inflicted upon her. This paper will discuss attempted to maintain a sense of self-worth by vehemently fighting for her property and possessions, while at the same time recognising that Braham’s discretion had reputationally unmade her.