02628cam a22003133u 4500 54614 UtSlPG 20260610134247.0 m cr n 260607r2017||||utu|||||o|||||||||||||| d UtSlPG en iso639-1 PQ Serao, Matilde, 1856-1927 The Land of Cockayne: A Novel Salt Lake City, UT : Project Gutenberg, 2017 1 online resource : multiple file formats text txt rdacontent computer c rdamedia online resource cr rdacarrier Release date is 2017-04-26 Produced by Andrés V. Galia, Charlie Howard, Chris Curnow and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) "The Land of Cockayne: A Novel" by Matilde Serao is a work of fiction written in the late 19th century. The narrative explores the lives of various characters from the lower social strata of Naples, particularly focusing on their aspirations and struggles, centered around themes of fortune and despair, often represented through the lottery. Key figures in the story include Carmela, a seamstress with a wearied yet hopeful demeanor, and other townsfolk who are drawn into the world of gambling, revealing the underlying social tensions and dreams of a better life. The opening of the novel introduces the picturesque but melancholic setting of Naples, where the anticipation of a lottery drawing brings together a diverse group of people, united by their hopes for fortune. Through vivid descriptions, Serao paints a scene of a bustling street and an eager crowd, highlighting characters such as Michele, the shoeblack, and Carmela, who yearns for a small slice of hope amidst her struggles. As the crowd waits, their conversations reveal their intimate relationship with gambling and the lottery, which serves as both an escape from their harsh realities and a source of deep disappointment. The atmosphere shifts dramatically when the lottery drawing commences, eliciting emotional responses from the crowd and culminating in a strong sense of despair as hopes are dashed, setting the tone for the social commentary that unfolds throughout the novel. (This is an automatically generated summary.) Original publication data not identified Italy -- Fiction Italian fiction -- Translations into English https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/54614 95446 95446