Overview

The beautiful young Countess Fiorenza d'Arda has died dramatically at her villa near Lake Geneva. Judge François Ferpierre, the senior magistrate assigned to Lausanne's central court, arrives to investigate whether it was murder or suicide. In either case, who is responsible? A diverse set of characters - including two Russian anarchists and a melancholy young poet, each struggling with their own complex moral, political and artistic dilemmas - all become suspects. Ferpierre works on shifting ground as each new revelation uncovers another aspect of the case, another quandary shedding new light on intertwining motivations. ""Agony"" is the first English-language translation of Federico De Roberto's Spasimo, a psychological-detective novel. Here, for the first time, a Sicilian author has written a detective procedural. De Roberto, a master of verismo, is celebrated today for his acute political, social, and psychological insights. His work was held in high esteem by Leonardo Sciascia, who deemed I Viceré the greatest Italian novel after I promessi sposi.

Full Product Details

9781599103938

Table of Contents

Reviews

If we are who we are today, we owe it in part to characters just like those portrayed in the novels of De Roberto. -Stefania Auci, author of I Leoni di Sicilia, La Repubblica In entering the 'human abyss' ... chasing clues even in the most inaccessible recesses of the psyche ... giving an account of all this, De Roberto as usual is a true master. -Salvatore Ferlita, La Repubblica

Author Information

Federico De Roberto was born in Naples in 1861 and educated at the University of Catania. He first became a literary critic for Corriere della Sera in Milan, then he turned from criticism to write several classic works, including ""L'Illusione,"" ""I Viceré,"" and ""L'Imperio,"" a trilogy that forms the saga of the noble Uzeda family of Catania set against the Risorgimento. His considerable output includes collections of short stories, letters, and verse. During his lifetime, success largely eluded his efforts, but with the posthumous publication in 1958 of Lampedusa's ""Il Gattopardo"" (""The Leopard""), De Roberto's work was reassessed, and he now holds a prominent place in the canon of Italian literature. Andrew Edwards is the co-author of ""Sicily: A Literary Guide for Travellers""; and ""Andalucía: A Literary Guide for Travellers""; ""His Master's Reflection,"" a biography of Lord Byron's doctor, John Polidori; and ""Ghosts of the Belle Époque,"" a history of the Grand Hotel et des Palmes, Palermo. He is also the translator of the books ""Borges in Sicily,"" ""The Sicilian Defence,"" and various academic treatises. He spends his time between the UK and the north coast of Sicily.

Tab Content 6

Customer Reviews

Recent Reviews

Countries Available