Product Review

A classic of Italian literature, this epic and unforgettable novel recounts one man’s long and turbulent life in revolutionary Italy

At the age of eighty-three and nearing death, Carlo Altoviti has decided to write down the confessions of his long life. Throughout, Carlo has lived for his two great passions: his dream of a unified, free Italy and his undying love for the magnificent but inconstant Pisana. Peopled by a host of unforgettable characters, this epic historical novel intertwines the remarkable story of one man’s life and the history of Italy’s unification.

For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.