La San-Felice, Tome 01

Set against the turbulent backdrop of the French Directoire, the story unfolds in Naples between 1798 and 1800, a city caught between revolutionary fervor and royal restoration. The narrative opens with the astonishing French triumph of General Championnet, whose ten thousand men defeat a vastly larger army and seize the capital in just three days. At the same time, the obscure cardinal Ruffo begins a remarkable march from Messina with a handful of followers, gathering a force that will soon challenge the new republic. The author frames these real events with a lively, almost theatrical tone, promising a blend of history and imagination.

Among the cast are vivid figures such as child‑king Ferdinand, portrayed through the eyes of French chronicler Joseph Gorani, and the grotesque yet charismatic San‑Nicandro, a self‑appointed guardian of the throne. Their contrasting personalities—one naïve and royal, the other crude and power‑hungry—illustrate the chaotic social spectrum from aristocracy to desperate peasantry. As the preface warns, the ensuing tale weaves factual intrigue with invented dramas, inviting listeners to experience the feverish pulse of a city on the brink of transformation.