Vita e avventure di Riccardo Joanna: romanzo

In a cramped Milanese flat, the day begins amid scattered newspapers, the sharp scent of ink and the lingering sweetness of coffee. Paolo Joanna moves silently, careful not to disturb his seven‑year‑old son, whose pale face rests under a tattered sheet while a lone fly circles the still air. The modest setting, with its worn furniture and a solitary servant from Cilento, paints a picture of quiet hardship softened by a father’s tender vigilance.

When morning light finally reaches the room, Riccardo awakens with the lively curiosity of a child who has already rehearsed his own small “songs.” He fumbles for his shoes, dresses in a freshly pressed little jacket and red silk cravat, and hums with the confidence of someone ready for the day ahead. The brief exchange with the servant about breakfast hints at a simple outing that may soon lead the boy into the wider world beyond the apartment’s narrow walls.