The Desire of Life

The novel opens on a slow, sun‑lit ascent through the Swiss Alps, where Don Vittorio Lante and his companion Lucio Sabini ride a carriage along winding mountain roads. Their conversation drifts between the rhythm of the landscape—glimmering glaciers, rushing torrents, and quiet villages—and the unspoken thoughts that linger beneath polite remarks. The detailed description of the valleys, inns, and the crisp mountain air creates a vivid backdrop for a journey that feels both physical and reflective.

In these opening chapters the two men, contrasting in appearance and temperament, begin to measure their own desires against the vast, indifferent beauty around them. As they watch the Forno Glacier emerge against the fading light, a subtle tension builds, hinting at questions of purpose, friendship, and the yearning that drives them forward. Listeners will be drawn into a contemplative travel narrative that balances lyrical scenery with the inner currents of longing.