Olocausto

The novel opens in a bustling trattoria in an Italian provincial town, where the clatter of plates and the hum of conversation fill the air. A tall, self‑made merchant watches the scene from his table, noting the bright smiles of well‑fed students on one side and the stiff, self‑assured provincial family on the other. The vivid description of the electric lighting, the cheap Chianti, and the colourful dress of the three brunettes creates a lively portrait of everyday life in 1918.

Through the merchant’s observations we sense the subtle friction between youthful ambition and entrenched respectability, hinting at deeper social currents that will soon be tested. The narrative captures the texture of a society on the brink, where small gestures—like a waiter’s shy smile or a mother’s commanding tone—reveal larger questions of class, identity, and change. Listeners are invited to step into this richly drawn world and follow the characters as their ordinary day begins to unravel.