Romanzo d'una signorina per bene

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

22507

Title

Romanzo d'una signorina per bene

Language

it

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

A poignant tale of a young woman, Lucia, who must choose between her family's social standing and her own heart. Set against the backdrop of industrial Milan and the idyllic Riviera, this novel explores themes of pride, love, and the courage to follow one's true feelings over societal expectations.

Summary up to 500 words

In Anna Vertua Gentile's *Romanzo d'una signorina per bene*, the narrative centers on Lucia, a sensitive and proud young woman living in Milan with her wealthy industrialist father and her aunt. The story opens with Lucia writing a heartfelt letter to her former governess, Antonietta. Lucia feels deeply abandoned by Antonietta, whom she blames for leaving their home due to misplaced pride. This incident highlights Lucia's disdain for the superficiality of her father's social circle, particularly the arrogant Signora Rabbi, and reinforces her desire for a marriage founded on genuine love rather than social status or convenience. Following her father's factory's silver anniversary, Lucia decides to escape the stifling Milanese environment by traveling to the Riviera. There, she initially finds solace in nature and solitude at her family's modest cottage. However, her peace is disrupted by the arrival of a new, fashionable bathing establishment filled with noisy visitors and intrusive friends. Despite her efforts to remain solitary, she is drawn to the attention of the handsome Engineer Del Pozzo. Initially, Lucia believes him to be indifferent and arrogant, viewing his polite but distant demeanor as a sign of his high social standing rather than genuine interest. The narrative takes a dramatic turn when Lucia suddenly falls ill, a condition that nearly claims her life. During her convalescence, she reflects on her past and the nature of true affection. Upon recovering, she realizes that Del Pozzo's feelings were genuine all along; his earlier reserve was not indifference but a sign of his noble character. The story concludes with Lucia's joyous acceptance of Del Pozzo's love. She promises a future where she can marry for affection rather than social convenience, finding happiness and peace in her own heart. Through this journey, the novel explores themes of pride versus humility, the value of authentic emotion over social pretense, and the transformative power of love and forgiveness.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

Download URL

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/22507.epub.noimages

Local file path

data/epubs/pg22507.epub

Removed after upload

Downloaded at

2026-07-05 23:34 UTC

Categories

• Fiction