The Patriot (Piccolo Mondo Antico)

by Antonio Fogazzaro

"The Patriot (Piccolo Mondo Antico)" by Antonio Fogazzaro is a novel published in 1895. Set during the 1850s Italian Risorgimento, it follows Franco Maironi and Luisa Rigey, whose marriage faces opposition from Franco's pro-Austrian grandmother. She withholds his inheritance and persecutes the couple for their patriotic beliefs. When tragedy strikes their young daughter, their conflicting temperaments—his religious idealism versus her skeptical materialism—threaten to destroy their bond entirely. This alpine tale explores love, faith, and political conviction against the backdrop of Italy's struggle for independence.