I sogni dell'Anarchico

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

25175

Title

I sogni dell'Anarchico

Language

it

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

In this evocative anarchist novella, Ugo Mioni contrasts the cold logic of revolutionary terror with the enduring power of faith. Set against a snowy Christmas backdrop, the story follows a conflicted bomb-thrower whose resolve crumbles when he accidentally kills a young girl while attempting to assassinate a bishop. Blending historical flashbacks of Gothic invasions with a meditation on free will, the narrative explores whether true liberation lies in violence or spiritual redemption.

Summary up to 500 words

The story opens in an elegant salon where two men debate the nature of the soul and the necessity of action. The younger protagonist, Giovanni Giunti, is a committed anarchist who plans to throw a bomb at Christmas to prove his courage and reject what he sees as the tyranny of tradition and religion. His older friend, Narciso Rossi, represents a more pragmatic, perhaps cowardly, faction that prioritizes safety over ideological purity. Giunti despises Rossi for hesitating, viewing him as a traitor to the cause. The narrative shifts to a historical fantasy sequence, imagining the Italian countryside under the brutal occupation of Gothic invaders. In this allegory, the invaders represent foreign powers or oppressive forces destroying the land. Here, the protagonist encounters two monks—a venerable old man and a radiant youth—who miraculously stop the Goths. The youth, identified as Romano, reveals himself to be the protagonist's long-lost brother. Through the power of the Cross and divine intervention, the Goths are pacified, the prisoners are redeemed, and the land is saved. This vision serves as a counterpoint to the protagonist's planned violence, suggesting that faith and love, rather than bombs, are the true saviors of humanity. Returning to the present, Giunti prepares to execute his plan. He writes a bitter letter to Rossi, condemning his cowardice and predicting his suicide, intending to publish it after his own death to shame the anarchist movement. He leaves his home, entrusting his inheritance to a trusted comrade, and walks toward the cathedral where the bishop is celebrating Mass. The atmosphere is festive; the bells ring, and the choir sings of peace. Giunti struggles with his conscience, questioning if the Church is truly the enemy or if the masses are simply seeking a moment of respite from their hardships. He considers abandoning the attack to distribute anarchist literature instead, but his pride and desire for revenge against Rossi drive him forward. As he exits the church onto the snowy street, a young girl slips on the ice. Giunti rushes to help her, but in his haste, he throws the bomb he is carrying. The explosion kills both the girl and himself, burying them under the snow. The story concludes with a reflection on grace and education, questioning how society fails to guide individuals away from such tragic errors. The novella ends not with a revolution, but with a quiet, fatalistic acceptance of a life cut short by a moment of misplaced courage and a failure to trust in a higher mercy.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Fiction
• Politics