The Child of Pleasure (Il Piacere‪)‬

The Child of Pleasure (Il Piacere) is a novel written by Italian writer Gabriele D'Annunzio, first published in 1889. The novel is considered a pioneering work of modern Italian literature and is known for its innovative style and lyrical language. It is set in the late 19th century and follows the story of a young man named Andrea Sperelli, a dandy and a member of the Italian aristocracy, as he navigates his way through the decadent and hedonistic society of Rome. The story begins with Andrea's return to Rome after a period of time spent abroad, and follows his experiences as he becomes embroiled in a series of relationships with a number of women. The novel explores themes of decadence, love, desire, beauty, and mortality, and is known for its frank and sensual depictions of sexuality. Because of this, it was very controversial when it was first published, as it challenged traditional Victorian morality and social norms. The book was banned in several countries and its publication caused a major scandal in Italy.