Edmondo De Amicis

A cabaret singer arrives in Morocco and continues her wicked career by enslaving all the men in sight, until she finally falls in love. Blonde Venus: An aspiring young actress gives up the stage to marry a scientist who becomes afflicted with radium poisoning. She returns to cabaret life and meets a wealthy playboy who gives her the money for her husband's treatment. The devil is a woman: At the turn of the century, in the port town of Seville, it's carnival week, and the blood of enemies and the passions of lovers run hot. But, none so much as those of a young revolutionary, his old friend, and the new woman who comes between them both. The flame of New Orleans: An impoverished countess arrives in New Orleans with one thing in mind, to marry a wealthy man. Golden earrings: A Hungarian gypsy rescues a British intelligence officer and helps him to accomplish his mission

In fifty episodes an Italian boy records his thoughts and feelings inside and outside of school during one year.

Inspired by the author's own children, who had been schoolboys at the time, the novel is set during the Italian unification, and includes several patriotic themes through an investigation of social issues such as poverty.