Deze romanserie duikt in de decadente sfeer van het einde van de 19e en het begin van de 20e eeuw, waarbij de leegte van de aristocratische samenleving en de crisis van haar waarden worden onderzocht. De verhalen richten zich op verfijnde estheten en kunstenaars die ernaar streven hun leven als kunstwerken te leiden te midden van het verval van hun wereld. Verwacht ingewikkelde liefdesrelaties, een vruchteloze jacht op plezier en de botsing met de opkomende massacommunicatie. Het biedt een boeiende kijk op de desintegratie van schoonheidsidealen en de opkomst van winstgedreven moderniteit.
Like Oscar Wilde's Dorian Gray, Andrea Sperelli lives his life as a work of art, seeking beauty and flouting the rules of morality and social interaction along the way. In his aristocratic circles in Rome, he is a serial seducer. But there are two women who command his special regard: the young widow Elena, and the pure, virgin-like Maria.
This edition of The Intruder offers a faithful reprint of the original 1898 text, preserving its historical integrity and literary style. Readers can explore the themes and narrative as they were intended in the late 19th century, providing a glimpse into the era's storytelling and cultural context.
Set in late 19th-century Italy, the story follows Andrea Sperelli, a young aristocrat captivated by beauty and pleasure. His indulgent lifestyle leads to disillusionment as he grapples with existential questions, particularly through his tumultuous relationship with Elena Muti, who represents his ideals but is engaged to another. The novel delves into themes of beauty, love, and the inevitability of death, featuring D'Annunzio's lush prose that contrasts the allure of art with the darker realities of decay. It's a profound exploration of the human experience.