The ItalianFrom the first moment Vincentio di Vivaldi, a young nobleman, sets eyes on the veiled figure of Ellena, he is captivated by her enigmatic beauty and grace. But his haughty and manipulative mother is against the match and enlists the help of her confessor to come between them. Schedoni, previously a leading figure of the Inquisition, is a demonic, scheming monk with no qualms about the task, whether it entails abduction, torture - or even murder. The Italian secured Ann Radcliffe's position as the leading writer of Gothic romance of the age, for its atmosphere of supernatural and nightmarish horrors, combined with her evocation of sublime landscapes and chilling narrative. |
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The Italian: Or the Confessional of the Black Penitents, a Romance Ann Radcliffe Limited preview - 2011 |
Common terms and phrases
abbess accuser added affection answer appeared approaching asked assertion attention believed called chamber character church circumstances concealed conduct confession Confessor consideration considered continued convent countenance dark death designed discovered door doubt Ellena emotion endeavoured entered escape examination expression eyes face father fear feelings followed further hand heard heart holy hope hour immediately Inquisition inquisitor interest interrupted Italy knew lady late leave length less light listened longer looked Marchesa master means mind moment monk Naples nature never night object observed occasioned Olivia once passed Paulo paused perceived perhaps person possible present prison probably question Radcliffe reached reason received recollect remained repeated replied returned romance scarcely scene Schedoni seemed seen Signor silence situation soon sound Spalatro speak spirits steps stranger suffered thought till tribunal truth turned Vivaldi voice wished