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''The Italian, or the Confessional of the Black Penitents'' (1797) is a Gothic novel written by the English author Ann Radcliffe. It is the last book Radcliffe published during her lifetime (she would go on to write the novel ''Gaston de Blondeville'', which was published posthumously in 1826). ''The Italian'' has a dark, mysterious and somber tone, and concerns the themes of love, devotion and persecution by the Holy Inquisition. The novel also deals with issues prevalent at the time of the French Revolution, such as religion, aristocracy, and nationality. Radcliffe's renowned use of veiled imagery is considered to have reached its height of sophistication and complexity in ''The Italian''; concealment and disguise are central motifs of the novel. In line with late 18th-century sensibility and its parallel fetishisation of the sublime and the sentimentally pastoral, the heightened emotional states of Radcliffe's characters are often reflected through the pathetic fallacy. The novel is noted for its extremely effective antagonist, Father Schedoni.〔Murray, E.B. "Ann Radcliffe". Twayne, 1972, p.135.〕 ==Characters== *Vincentio di Vivaldi: Son of the Marchese and Marchesa of Naples; Ellena's suitor *Ellena Rosalba: Orphan niece of Signora Bianchi; Daughter of Sister Olivia; Vivaldi's lover *Father Schedoni/ Count di Marinella: Confessor to the Marchesa; uncle to Ellena *Marchesa di Vivaldi: Mother of Vivaldi; Conspirator with Schedoni *Marchese di Vivaldi: Father of Vivaldi *Paulo: Servant of Vivaldi *Signora Bianchi: Aunt of Ellena *Sister Olivia/ Countess di Bruno: Mother of Ellena *Spalatro: Conspirator with Schedoni and the Marchesa *Nicola di Zampari: Accuser of Schedoni; Informer to Vivaldi *''Less Significant Characters:'' Bonarmo, Lady Abbess of San Stefano, Inquisitors, Father Ansaldo, Beatrice NOTE: Critics pay much attention to Radcliffe's villains, such as Schedoni, who influenced the Byronic characters of Victorian literature.〔http://academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/english/melani/novel_18c/radcliffe/index.html〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「The Italian (novel)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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