In the 1830s a young man, raised in an English family in Tuscany, deceived and betrayed, fakes his own death and runs away. 13 years later, he returns to the area under a new identity, the radical satirist The Gadfly.
At the start of the second section it is clear this is an elaborate set up, but given that, this reverse colored echo of Monte Cristo has somewhat interesting characters. Also, while it was a favorite of revolutionary Russians, it more of a send up of revolutionary supporters than an endorsement. But when it gets where it's going - it's off the rails.
A surreal anti-Christian rant that is excessive for an atheist to read. Perhaps a Stalinist could fancy this, forgiving its rather realistic portions for the brave doom and death of the Gadfly and the final frenzy of regret the following day. Oh, and it's racist as all get out, all in the recollections of said Gadfly. ( )

This book might actually work better in translation, since some of the stiffness in the normal dialogue could be shaken out. I can understand why it never gained much recognition in its original version, but that's not to say that the reader is indifferent to the plight of the characters or that it's without interesting sequences or dialogues. ( )

Интересные вопросы затронуты и сюжет ничего, но как-то мелковато все. На поверхности. Глубоко не проработан не один из этих интересных моментов.
Чем-то смахивало на графа монте кристо) ( )

This review was written for LibraryThing Member Giveaway

Ethel Lilian Boole (1864-1960) wrote The Gadfly in 1897, soon after marrying Wilfred Michael Voynich, a fellow revolutionary. The novel concerns the Italian uprising against Austrian rule in the mid 1840s, a period of history not well known to modern readers. Some critics have thought that Voynich based the character of Arthur Burton on the early life of Sidney Reilly in Russia, whose story was later written into a book and dramatized as Reilly, Ace of Spies. Other main characters include Gemma Warren Bolla and Father Montanelli along with Gemma’s friend Cesare Martini.

The book concerns revolutionary ideas, especially the anti-clerical movement. Theology is an important theme throughout the book which begins with this epigraph, “What have we to do with Thee, Thou Jesus of Nazareth?“ Before reading the book, I did not realize that this statement sets the anti-religious tone. The group to which Bolla and Martini belong are portrayed at first as non-violent but things change with the arrival of a pamphlet writer nicknamed the Gadfly.

Being unfamiliar with this period of Italian history, it was hard to understand some of the plot. I would recommend some research before reading the book. Also I found it very difficult to follow who was speaking since Voynich uses few explanatory words in passages of dialogue. I read part 1 several times and still found it difficult. The fact that Gadfly stuttered made the sections with him speaking easy to distinguish.

Although this was not an easy book to read, due to difference in language use and the dialogue, it was worthwhile. ( )

A dramatic tale about love, honor, romance, obscure Italian history when under Austria's rule, and atheism. ( )