The Desire of Life

"The Desire of Life" by Matilde Serao is a novel written in the late 19th century. The story unfolds in the beautiful backdrop of the Engadine mountains and follows characters searching for meaning and connection amid the complexities of love and societal expectations. Central to the narrative are Don Vittorio Lante and Lucio Sabini, two friends whose interactions reveal their personal struggles regarding love, freedom, and societal demands. The opening of the novel introduces Don Vittorio Lante and Lucio Sabini as they embark on a carriage journey through the captivating landscapes of the Alps. Their conversation touches on themes of love, longing, and the burdens of their respective social standings. Don Vittorio grapples with familial obligations and a sense of duty tied to his name, while Lucio expresses his frustrations with romantic entanglements and the fleeting nature of his affairs. Their discussions meld with evocative descriptions of the mountainous terrain, setting a tone of introspection and desire for a different life as they navigate this world, both outwardly glamorous and internally conflicted. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Matilde Serao was an Italian journalist and novelist. She was the first woman called to edit an Italian newspaper, Il Corriere di Roma and later Il Giorno. Serao was also the co-founder and editor of the newspaper Il Mattino, and the author of several novels. She never won the Nobel Prize in Literature despite being nominated on six occasions.