Innocence

Lara Gochin Raffaelli has produced an expert new English translation of a masterpiece of Italian literature. L’Innocente (1892) is a psychological novel by the renowned Italian author Gabriele D’Annunzio.

Set in fin-de-siècle Rome and the southern Italian countryside, the story revolves around Tullio Hermil, a man entangled in his own moral failings. The novel delves into the psychological nuances of the characters and their relationships, making it an exploration of human emotions and moral dilemmas. D’Annunzio explores the depths of Tullio’s psyche, exploring his twisted emotions, moral ambiguity, and descent into madness. The translation is faithful to D’Annunzio’s original, maintaining his lyrical rhythms and rich imagery, while updating previously censored content for modern readers. Key themes include the interplay of religious faith and the pursuit of sensual pleasure; the implications of patriarchal authority; and the pursuit of redemption in a morally ambiguous world

Innocence presents an uncensored version of Gabriele D’Annunzio’s famous novel. Also, featuring a rich and informative introduction from Michael J. Subialka, the novel is a valuable contribution to the fields of comparative literature, Italian studies, fin-de-siècle studies, and medical humanities.

Lara Gochin Raffaelli holds a PhD in Italian Literature, specialising in Gabriele D’Annunzio and Maria Messina. Her translation of D’Annunzio’s Pleasure was published in 2013. Recent works include contributions to The Oxford Handbook of Decadence (2022) and a special edition of Forum Italicum (2017).

Michael J. Subialka is Associate Professor of Comparative Literature and Italian and Director of Graduate Study for Comparative Literature at the University California, Davis, USA.