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First published in 1797, The Italian is one of the finest examples of Gothic romance. The fast-paced, narrative centres on Ann Radcliffe's most brilliant creation, the sinister monk Schedoni, whose past is shrouded in mystery.
From the novel's opening chapters the reader is ushered into a shadowy world in which crime and religion are mingled. In the church of Santa Maria del Pianto in Naples, Ellena Rosalba and Vincentio di Vivaldi first meet; but their love is ill-omened. Leagued against them are the proud and ambitious Marchese di Vivaldi and her confessor Father Schedoni. When Ellena vanishes on the death of her guardian, Vivaldi sets out in pursuit of her across the mountainous regions of southern Italy before himself falling prey to the Holy Inquisition.
This revised and expanded edition explores the novel in the context of British attitudes to Italy and Roman Catholicism in the late eighteenth century with close attention to the novel's style and form.
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Ann Radcliffe is queen of the gothic romance novel. The Italian is well written, with many plot twists, good character development, and great landscape descriptions and settings. However, it contains very long passages of exposition that slowed the plot and made me set the book down several times. It's a very difficult book to read in one or two sittings. It is, overall, a good read, if you're interested in gothic fiction, although I prefer other gothic classics like Dracula and Frankenstein.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.This version was worth the money! The free Google version had so many errors it was unreadable. This e-version only had a few areas where the oldfashioned S's still translated as F's. The story was interesting and had a lot of action. As with Gothic mysteries there were many sinister characters with selfish motives and dastardly plans. Every house the characters stumbled upon was dilapitated and had a sad history. The plot had me captivated right up until the end, although the climax left me unsatisfied. I felt that Radcliffe could have created a more exciting ending.
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Posted January 9, 2011
Very good ebook. No more typos than you would find in the original, which is refreshing. Ann Radcliffe has a wonderful sense of humour in this book, as well as keeping to her reputation of describing the beautiful landscapes of Italy. Highly recommend this book....this version
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted November 9, 2002
The Italian is the epitome of the gothic romance. A plot full of astounding mysteries that come together to make this particulare novel one of Radcliffe's finest. The novel beautifully displays the web of sectrets, hidden rooms and labyrinths, and sweeping romance that established its author as the queen of romantic liturature. The Italian engulfs the reader from the begining to the end with the lovers Ellena di Rosalba and Vincentio di Vivaldi fight to break free from the opression of separation and even death. Written in 1797 the book is by no means boring but full of terrors that will give its modern day reader chills. It is a magnificent novel of manipulation, intrigue, kidnap, romance, and the horror of the Inquisition.
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Posted August 4, 2000
The best mysteries are those you cannot unravel until the final pages; twists and turns that leave one marveling at the imagination of the author. This is a book worth phoning in sick.
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Overview
First published in 1797, The Italian is one of the finest examples of Gothic romance. The fast-paced, narrative centres on Ann Radcliffe's most brilliant creation, the sinister monk Schedoni, whose past is shrouded in mystery.
From the novel's opening chapters the reader is ushered into a shadowy world in which crime and religion are mingled. In the church of Santa Maria del Pianto in Naples, Ellena Rosalba and Vincentio di Vivaldi first meet; but their love is ill-omened. Leagued against them are the proud and ambitious Marchese di Vivaldi and her confessor Father Schedoni. When Ellena vanishes on the death of her guardian, Vivaldi sets out in pursuit ...