The Italian (novel)

The Italian (1796) is a novel belonging to the Gothic genre and written by the English author Ann Radcliffe. The full name of the novel is "The Italian, or the Confessional of the Black Penitents". It is the last book Radcliffe published during her lifetime. The Italian has a dark, mysterious and sombre atmosphere, and concerns the themes of love, devotion and persucution by the Holy Inquisition.

Related Topics:
1796 - Gothic - English - Ann Radcliffe - Holy Inquisition

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The plot is set in the 18th century Italy, where a young nobleman of Naples, Vincentio di Vivaldi, meets a beautiful damsel Ellena Rosalba, with whom he falls in love and whom he intends to marry. Vincentio's mother, being against the match and goaded by the mysterious monk Schedoni, orders to kidnap Ellena. Vincentio nearly marries Ellena, but both are arrested and separated by Schedoni's subordinates before the nuptial ceremony is completed. Schedoni then travels to assassinate the girl, but suddenly discovers that she is in fact his own daughter. Schedoni's plans change radically and he hides Ellena in a safe place. Meanwhile, Vincentio, transported into a prison of Inquisition, struggles to disprove false charges against him. Schedoni appears at the trial, and after several unexpected revelations Vincentio is acquitted. It turns out that Schedoni descends from an old and noble family, and therefore Ellena becomes an eligible match for Vincentio. The novel ends with a happy marriage between the two.

Related Topics:
18th century - Italy - Naples

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