The Gadfly (Unabridged‪)‬

The Gadfly is an 1897 novel by the Irish writer Ethel Voynich, set in Italy of the 1840s under the rule of Austria. It is a period of uprisings and revolution. The Gadfly is a tale of heroism, faith, and disillusionment, where love manifests in its religious, romantic, and family forms. The story follows the activities of Arthur Burton and his antagonist, Padre Montanelli. Arthur, a radical journalist who publishes satirical tracts under the pseudonym "the gadfly", is in love with Gemma. The narrative also explores the relationship between religious and revolutionary feelings. The natural scenery of Italy, the Alps in particular, plays an important part in the book, where the descriptions of nature mirror the thoughts and feelings of the characters.