The Book of the Virgins

by Gabriele d'Annunzio, Tim Parks (Foreword)

The Book of the Virgins, published here in its first English translation, is one of Gabriele D’Annunzio’s very first collections. Remarkable for its descriptive powers, it is a compelling account of self-knowledge and coming-of-age. Recovering from a near-fatal illness, a young woman resolves to experience for herself all that life has to offer. Spurning her old saintly ways, she sets out to explore the beauty and energy in everything around her. But as she senses the first stirrings of passion, so too comes tragedy, and with it, the realization that to truly live, she must embrace life in all its brutality. Poet, dramatist, novelist, and one of the most popular and controversial Italian writers of the 20th century, Gabriele D’Annunzio represented the very height of decadence in Italy.

Genres: Italy, Classics, Italian Literature, Short Stories, Literature, Fiction

120 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1884

About the author

Gabriele D'Annunzio, Prince of Montenevoso (12 March 1863 – 1 March 1938), was an Italian poet, playwright, orator, journalist, aristocrat, and army officer during World War I. He occupied a prominent place in Italian literature from 1889 to 1910 and later political life from 1914 to 1924. He was often referred to under the epithets Il Vate ("the Poet") or Il Profeta ("the Prophet").

D'Annunzio combined in his work naturalism, symbolism, and erotic images, becoming the best interpreter of European Decadence in post-Risorgimento Italy.

His love affairs, relationship with the world-famous actress Eleanora Duse, heroic adventures during World War I, and his occupation of Fiume in 1919 made him a legend in his own time.

Reviews

[Alger · Rating 4 out of 5]

I became aware of this book years ago when I was the Special Order Clerk at Borders in like 2006. Someone ordered it and I looked it over. It seemed like it might be interesting, so I said someday I would read it. It was really good. It sort of reminded me of a Italian version of Kate Chopin's "Awakening." It is very lyrical and subtly erotic dealing with four short tales of the innocence of pure love and the corruption of the world that slowly withers it through societal pejudices and cruel circumstance. Though all most were somber, I really enjoyed the world D'Annunzio wove with his poetic prose. This is really an enchanting little collection.

[Zadignose]

In this collection of four stories, the first, the longest, "The Virgins," is certainly worth a read if you want to know why this author is noted. It's good, it's poignant, it's tragic, it's well-told. At times you will think "wow" and be dazzled by authorial talent. And each of the stories is good in itself, but taken together, I felt I had a bit of an overdose even for so short a collection. The sensual description of everything gets uncomfortably pervy, and one wishes the author would hit a few different notes along the way.

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

slightly wary about reading this - long interested in d'Annunzio for historical reasons (the incident at Fiume, the link between Decadence and Futurism, various great anecdotes) but this the first prose work of his I've read in English. this book contains one longer and three shorter pieces, all of them exciting and disappointing in much the same measure. exciting in A.'s thorough-going sensual materialism, his Sadean black humour and robust anti-Christianity. disappointing in his old-fashioned insistence that desire (especially women's desire) brings suffering and death - as if his much-vaunted decadence is merely the flip-side of the dessicated piety he abhors. delirious, but distasteful.

[Daniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first story, The Virgins, is very good. The others not so much.

[Ravi Singh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Was there nothing this great man could not do?

A great poet and writer, artist, explorer, pre-cursor to Fascism as we know it today, adventurer. His writing is full of throwing caution to the wind, passionate, unrestrained, cult writing. One of my favourite books for the tense atmosphere he portrays in his writing, the resurrection no doubt of a young girl from an illness that could have killed her and the desire, deep desire, to live unrestrained. A sexual awakening in her, no doubt controversial of a Catholic country, or at least one with the constraints of Catholicism. Much better than La Regienta by Alas.

The power of writing is illustrated here.

[Kiki · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book about beauty; the beauty of romance, the beauty of love and seduction regardless the social habits or general morality. It’s also about the beauty of Rome, the art and objects through time, which make this city - well - eternal! D’Annunzio is not trying to save the world with beauty, but he let’s himself be pulled, bathed and tortured in its glow. The young souls search for emotional heights and it’s art and beauty that fill the need.

[Lila · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a collection of stories dealing with sexual frustration from a male point of view. The descriptions are excellent but the male gaze dominates with its Catholic background.

[Caspar Vega]

19/25 🇮🇹

[Salvatore · Rating 3 out of 5]

D'Annunzio descrive con il suo tipico linguaggio aulico i turbamenti psicologici di strani personaggi ambientati in Abruzzo. Sono novelle e il libro è piccolo....si legge d'un fiato!

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes I am drawn to a book. I discovered this jewel while browsing in the local bookstore. I am not sure what made me stop, but I am glad I did.
The Virgins is disturbing at times, beautiful and challenging. Sexual awakening, rape, curiosity.....I think I learn something new about myself each time I read it.

[Billy Shears · Rating 4 out of 5]

Presenta in nuce tutti i temi della successiva produzione dannunziana: attenzione alle tradizioni abruzzesi, viste con l'occhio quasi scientifico del naturalismo (Le vergini), estenuanti vicende di morte e consunzione (Favola sentimentale), brillante commedia erotica (In assenza di Lanciotto), prosa autobiografica frammentaria (Ad altare Dei). Un libro minore, ma da non sottovalutare.

[Carolina Morales · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grabriele D'Annuzio is the name of the bus stop nearest my home so, as I see it printed almost every day, I decided to give a try to this author. Very, very well elaborated; I recoomend it to all those who ever dared to think 'A Hundred Brush Strikes Before Going to Bed' is the ultimate sexual narrative of an Italian girl.

[Jason Mashak · Rating 2 out of 5]

Poetic, yes. Sophisticated writing, yes. Good storyteller, unfortunately no.

[Abrar Alnaseri · Rating 5 out of 5]

It took me deep into finding grace even in sickness .