Olocausto

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

27358

Title

Olocausto

Language

it

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Set in late 19th-century Florence, Alfredo Oriani's 'Olocausto' explores the tragic intersection of poverty, social stratification, and maternal love. Through the eyes of a young mother, the novel depicts the brutal reality of a girl sold into prostitution, offering a searing critique of societal indifference and the crushing weight of economic necessity on the human spirit.

Summary up to 500 words

Alfredo Oriani's *Olocausto* presents a harrowing critique of late 19th-century Florentine society, exposing the brutal exploitation of the poor under the guise of civilization. The narrative opens with a wealthy, socially isolated young man dining in Florence. Despite his material success and ability to command respect, he remains an outsider, observing the stark divide between the city's affluent nightlife and the suffering of the destitute. His internal monologue reveals a deep-seated envy and a sense of alienation, as he watches women of the upper class who remain forever out of his reach, highlighting the rigid class barriers that define his existence. The story's tragic core follows Tina, a sixteen-year-old girl living in abject poverty with her mother, Veronica. Following her mother's death, Tina is forced to abandon her home to survive. A pragmatic but well-meaning woman, Mrs. Cesarina, intervenes, arranging for Tina to be sold to a wealthy client for one hundred francs. Tina, driven by a desperate need to honor her mother's memory and secure a future for her family, accepts this fate with a heartbreaking resignation. She views the transaction not as a crime, but as a necessary sacrifice, believing she can navigate the upper world with dignity. Tina's journey to the client's house marks her entry into a world of horror. The narrative tone shifts from her initial acceptance to sheer terror as the reality of her situation sets in. The novel culminates in a devastating revelation: Tina is found dead in the client's bed, a victim of the very society she hoped to join. The tragedy deepens when Veronica discovers her daughter's body. Consumed by agonizing guilt, Veronica realizes her complicity in her daughter's death. Having failed to protect Tina from the harsh realities of the world, she is overwhelmed by the weight of her inability to save her child. The novel concludes with Veronica's desperate pleas for forgiveness, framing her actions as a tragic error born of love and necessity rather than malice. Through this intimate tragedy, Oriani expands the concept of the 'holocaust' of the poor. The title suggests a systematic destruction of the vulnerable by a civilized society that exploits them while claiming moral superiority. The story serves as a searing indictment of a social order where poverty dictates fate, and where the 'civilized' elite remain oblivious to the human cost of their indifference, leaving the poor to perish in the shadows of their own prosperity.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Classics
• Fiction