Ethel Lilian Voynich wrote the famous novel "Gadfly", which first appeared in 1897 in the USA. This revolutionary romantic work became a very famous literary work in the USSR. And after the repeated edition of the book, Khrushchev awarded the author a special prize, recognizing thereby the invaluable contribution to the formation of socialist ideology among the citizens of our country.
Italy, 19th century. The main character of the novel is called Arthur Burton. He is a student and a member of the secret revolutionary organization Young Italy. This confession is given to the authorities by his confessor, which entails the arrest of him and his comrade. The organization connects this fact with the betrayal of Burton, who is very experiencing such injustice. He quarrels with his girlfriend and accidentally learns from relatives that his father is the rector of the Montanelli seminary. The young man in despair pretends to commit suicide and goes to Buenos Aires.
After 13 years, Burton returns to his homeland, calling himself Rivares. He publishes satirical pamphlets, which he signs with the pseudonym "Gadfly." After some time, an armed clash occurs, which leads to his arrest and the death penalty. Cardinal Montanelli persuades Arthur to escape. However, he sets the condition according to which the clergyman must abandon religious beliefs and lay down his dignity. The denouement of the novel leads to the shooting of Gadfly and the death of Montanelli after the sermon.
The historical heritage of the famous novel
The first publication of the novel by E.L. Voynich takes place in the United States in 1897, and its transfer to Russia was completed a year later.
At first it was an appendix to a literary magazine, but already in 1900 a separate book was published. The novel began to spread in our country through the active participation of popular revolutionary figures. Soviet people recognized that Gadfly was their favorite piece of art. In the USSR, this novel was filmed three times, and a ballet and a rock musical were staged on its plot basis.
Part one
Nineteen-year-old Arthur Burton has very close contacts with Lorenzo Montanelli, the rector of the seminary, who is also his confessor. The young man immensely respects the Catholic priest (padre). After the death of his mother, which happened a year ago, he lives with his stepbrothers in Pisa.
The appearance of the young man makes many look at him. “Everything was too elegant in it, as if carved: long arrows of eyebrows, thin lips, small arms, legs. When he sat calmly, he could be mistaken for a pretty girl dressed in a man’s dress; but with flexible movements he resembled a tamed panther - true, without claws."
Burton, talking with the Padre, tells him that he joined the Young Italy and is going to devote his whole life to the struggle for freedom. The priest unsuccessfully tries to dissuade the young man from a reckless act in his opinion. He anticipates that trouble will happen soon.
Jim (Gemma Warren), a childhood friend, is also a member of this revolutionary organization. Soon Montanelli moved to Rome, where he assumed the post of bishop. The new rector is being confessed by Arthur. A young man trusts him with information that he loves a girl, who, in turn, is jealous of his friend in the party Bolle.
After a short time, Arthur is under arrest. During interrogations, he remains faithful to his revolutionary organization without betraying any of his friends. The gendarmes are forced to let him go. However, the comrades consider him a traitor, guilty of the detention of Bolla. The young man understands that the confessor has violated the secret of confession, but unconsciously behaves in such a way that Jim concludes his betrayal. She is violently indignant, and they part as enemies.
In the family circle, a scandal occurs during which the brother's sister tells Arthur that Montanelli is his own father. The young man pretends his own death by throwing his hat in the river and first breaking the crucifix and writing a suicide note. He is illegally moving to Buenos Aires.
Part two
In 1846, in Florence, members of the Mazzini party discuss their own actions to combat political power in the country. Dr. Riccardo invites his comrades to turn to Felice Rivares, who writes political pamphlets under the pseudonym Gadfly.
At the evening meeting at Grassini's Gemma Ball, the widow of Giovanni Bolla meets with Gadfly, who comes there with gypsy dancer Zita Reni, who is his mistress. "He was swarthy like a mulatto, and, despite his limp, agile like a cat. With his whole appearance he resembled a black jaguar. His forehead and left cheek were disfigured by a long curved scar - apparently from a saber strike … when he began to stutter, a nervous cramp twitching the left side of his face. " Gadfly’s behavior impresses her, because he does not take into account the rules of decency and behaves quite boldly.
Motanelli arrives in Florence, who already serves in the dignity of the cardinal. Signora Ball is going to meet with him, having not seen him since the time when Arthur died. Then the clergyman admitted to her that he was deceiving the young man, which he found out about. On that ill-fated day, the padre fell in a seizure right on the street, learning about the death of his child. On a joint walk with Gemma and Martini, they meet Gadfly, in which a woman sees the dead Arthur.
Rivares is seriously ill. The party comrades took turns on duty near his bed, and Zita was not allowed to approach him at the direction of the patient. The dancer strongly and aloud resents what Martini gives out her love for the Gadfly. Soon, he begins to recover and on one of the shifts by his bedside, Gemma reveals with her about life's adventures. She, in turn, admits that her beloved person died through her fault.
Soon, Jem begins to guess that Gadfly is Arthur. After all, there are so many external coincidences. She even tries to deal with doubts by observing Gadfly's behavior when she shows him a photograph of ten-year-old Arthur. But an experienced revolutionary does not betray himself. Soon, he asks Signor Ball to help transport military equipment to the Papal region, which she agrees to.
Zita accuses Felice that he loves only Cardinal Montanelli, and does not pay due attention to her feelings. She says: “You think I didn’t notice how you looked at his stroller?” Rivares agrees with her arguments.
In Brisighella, Gadfly, through accomplices, meets with Montanelli. He sees that the padre continues to suffer due to the death of Arthur. Rivares almost opens up to the cardinal; he is stopped only by his own pain from the memories of the past. Returning back, the man finds out that Zita left with a gypsy camp, intending to marry a fellow tribesman.
