Release date is 2023-11-06

Barbara Magni and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by the Bibliothèque nationale de France (BnF/Gallica))

"L'incantesimo: romanzo" by Enrico Annibale Butti is a novel written in the late 19th century. The story centers around the young Count Aurelio Imberido, a member of an aristocratic family struggling with personal and familial challenges amid the backdrop of social and political upheaval. The narrative explores themes of ambition, solitude, and the allure of women, as Aurelio grapples with his aspirations and the weight of his heritage in a changing society. The opening of the novel introduces Aurelio Imberido, who, after a brief sleep filled with unease, awakens to the call of a bell and contemplates his life in a nearly desolate setting. As he interacts with his elderly and ailing grandmother, Marta, the dynamics of their relationship are revealed, marked by her complaints about his reticence and absorbed nature. The chapter also foreshadows new arrivals in their quiet village—two young women and their mother—raising Aurelio's curiosity and unease, particularly in regard to his aversion to women's influence. His reflections lead to a conflict between his desire for social connection and his internal struggle to maintain distance from the "enchanting" power of femininity, which he views as a threat to his individuality and aspirations. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Originally published: Milano: Treves, 1897