Alberto Moravia, one of Italy’s most acclaimed 20th-century novelists, offers readers a poignant glimpse into war-torn Rome with his novel “Two Women” (“La Ciociara”).
Set during the chaos of World War II, the story centers on Cesira, a strong-willed woman fleeing Rome with her daughter Rosetta to avoid the Allied bombings.
The pair seek refuge in the mountains of Ciociaria, only to face unforeseen hardships and the brutality of war.
Moravia’s portrayal of Rome provides a backdrop of both horror and endurance, painting a complex portrait of a city and its inhabitants ravaged by conflict.
Carlo Emilio Gadda’s “That Awful Mess on Via Merulana” is a detective novel that transcends the genre with its intricate language and multifaceted narrative.
Set in the bustling heart of 1920s Rome, it follows Inspector Francesco Ingravallo as he investigates two crimes in a Roman apartment block.
What unfolds is not just a mystery but also a rich tapestry of Roman life, illustrating the city’s tangled socio-political web.
Gadda’s Rome is a character in its own right, with the Via Merulana standing as a symbol of the chaos and complexity of the city’s structure and culture.
Patricia Highsmith transports readers to a different facet of Rome with “The Talented Mr. Ripley,” a psychological thriller revolving around the enigmatic Tom Ripley.
Highsmith’s Rome is a playground for the wealthy expatriate community in the postwar years, where opulence and beauty mask a darker underworld.
Tom Ripley, a skilled manipulator and imposter, navigates this world with chilling detachment as he insinuates himself into the life of Dickie Greenleaf, a rich American living in Italy.
As the tension mounts, the novel explores themes of identity, amorality, and the intoxicating allure of the Roman setting.
Upton Sinclair, better known for his muckracking works, took a more romantic turn with “Roman Holiday.”
This historical novel brings to life the energy and grandeur of Renaissance Rome through the eyes of fictitious and historical characters.
Sinclair creates a vivid tapestry of a city at the height of its cultural and political power, capturing the essence of Rome’s streets, palaces, and the tumultuous lives of its residents.
While his portrayal is rooted in an earlier era, the novel encapsulates the timeless magnificence that Rome has always embodied.
In “I, Juan de Pareja,” Elizabeth Borton de Treviño delves into the world of art and slavery in Rome through the eyes of a historical figure, Juan de Pareja.
As the enslaved assistant to the painter Diego Velázquez, Juan’s narrative provides a captivating insider’s perspective on the Baroque art scene.
The Rome that Treviño paints is one of contrast—a place where extraordinary beauty coexists with human bondage.
“I, Juan de Pareja” is not only a testament to an individual’s resilience but also a sensitive portrayal of Rome as a city of both splendor and shadow.
Morris West’s “The Shoes of the Fisherman” is a novel that explores the spiritual and political intrigues of Vatican City, nestled in the heart of Rome.
The story follows Kiril Pavlovich Lakota, a Ukrainian archbishop released from a Soviet labor camp, who unexpectedly becomes Pope.
West’s narrative delves into the contrasts and convergences between the ancient and the modern within Rome, capturing the timeless intrigue that swirls around one of the city’s most enduring institutions—the papacy.
“Little Dorrit” is one of Charles Dickens’s masterpieces, in which he briefly transports his readers to a Rome that serves as a canvas for his social critique.
While much of the novel is set in London, Rome features significantly as the place where the Dorrit family experiences their newfound wealth.
Dickens juxtaposes the grandeur and decay of Rome with the characters’ own transformations, creating a multifaceted portrayal of a city that, much like his characters, is complex and filled with contrasting layers of splendor and suffering.
Muriel Spark’s “The Public Image” is a sharp commentary on fame and perception set against the vibrant backdrop of 1960s Rome.
Annabel Christopher, an English actress, becomes ensnared in the city’s glittering yet fickle film industry.
Spark’s Rome is one of contradiction; it is both ancient and modern, a place where the public image is all-encompassing.
Through Annabel’s struggle, Spark explores the intersection of personal identity and celebrity within the eternal city.
Resonating with the romanticism of its time, “A Roman Singer” by F. Marion Crawford tells a tale of love and ambition within the eternal city.
The protagonist, a young Roman singer, aspires to conquer not only the opera houses but also the heart of a noblewoman.
Crawford’s Rome is one of passion and artistry, set against historic landmarks that evoke the city’s artistic soul.
Cecelia Holland’s “City of God” throws us into the turmoil of medieval Rome, where the Papal States are under threat.
Holland does not merely create a historical novel; she reconstructs a period of intense conflict and transformation where political, spiritual, and human forces collide.
Her Rome is a crucible where characters’ fates are forged amidst ambitions, betrayals, and the perennial will to power.
Whether it’s the allure of its ancient ruins, the hubbub of its streets, or the drama of its political intrigues, Rome proves to be an endless source of inspiration for storytelling.