Spasimo

Federico De RobertoProject Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.2

Word count: 379K words
Chapters: 38

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.Spasimo by Federico De RobertoAuthor: De Roberto, Federico, 1861-1927,Language: Italian, Class: PQ: Language and Literatures: Romance literatures: French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Release Date: Nov 30, 2008

Editor's review

Spasimo is a literary work by the Italian author Federico De Roberto, in the public domain and released as an Italian-language eBook by Project Gutenberg. De Roberto is known for delicate psychological portrayal and a cool-eyed observation of social reality, and this book likewise continues his attention to inner tension and situational pressure, presenting the interweaving of emotion and fate through narrative progression. The value of reading it lies in experiencing the tradition of Italian literature that combines realism with psychological analysis, and in feeling how a character's struggles in adversity are revealed layer by layer rather than relying on the strong stimulation of plot. The language is Italian, suitable for readers with some foundation in Italian who wish to encounter Italian narrative works of the late nineteenth to early twentieth century. It is suited to quiet, close reading, with attention to shifts in narrative perspective and subtle changes in the characters' psychology. Note that this is a public-domain electronic text lacking the notes and introduction of a modern translation; readers may supplement it with materials on the author's life and the historical background to enter the textual context more easily.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers with an Italian foundation who want to read literary works in the original
Those interested in the Italian tradition of realistic and psychological narrative
Literary readers who prefer delicate character portrayal over strong plot
Students studying De Roberto's works or Italian literature

Not a good fit for

Readers with no Italian foundation at all who need a Chinese translation
Readers who prefer fast-paced plots and strong dramatic conflict
Beginners who need detailed notes and introductory guidance

Reading tips

First learn about the author's life and historical background, then enter the text to reduce comprehension obstacles.
While reading, note changes in narrative perspective and the characters' psychology; keeping notes on character relationships can help.
When encountering unfamiliar words, first infer from context, then look them up together after finishing a passage, to maintain reading rhythm.
After finishing, revisit key turning-point passages and sort out how the characters' situations correspond to the advance of their psychology.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

What language is this book written in?

This book is the original Italian text, a public-domain electronic text released by Project Gutenberg. It suits readers with some Italian reading ability; those who need to read in Chinese must find a translation elsewhere.

Will the lack of notes and an introduction affect reading?

It will have some effect. Public-domain electronic texts usually lack modern editorial notes and introductions; readers can first look up the author's life and historical background themselves and make brief notes on unfamiliar place names and allusions while reading, which can noticeably reduce difficulty.

What is the focus of reading this work?

The focus is the layered unfolding of the characters' psychology and circumstances, and the use of narrative perspective. It is advisable to attend to the connection between changes in the characters' emotions and the direction of their fate, rather than expecting strong external plot conflict.

Comments

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About the author

Federico De Roberto Author · Italian · 1861–1927

Federico De Roberto (1861–1927) was an Italian verismo writer. Born in Naples, he moved with his family to Catania in early childhood. He began his career in journalism and associated with leading verismo writers such as Verga and Capuana, whose influence shaped his own fiction. His masterpiece, I Viceré, traces the rise and fall of a Sicilian aristocratic family to reflect the social changes around Italian unification; his other works include L'Illusione, Ermanno Raeli, Documenti Umani and Catania. His fiction focuses chiefly on Sicilian society and historical change, with a precise, restrained style and close attention to psychology and social observation. Twelve of his works are held in the collection. Public information on his life and writing is limited and calls for further study.