Summary of History: A Novel
“History: A Novel” tells the story of Ida Ramundo, a widowed Jewish-Italian schoolteacher in Rome, who struggles to raise her two sons, Nino and Useppe, during World War II. Useppe is a lively yet vulnerable child, born as a result of Ida’s rape by a German soldier at the onset of the war. Nino is a troublesome teenager, who joins the fascist brownshirts and later the communist resistance, and only rarely visits his mother and half-brother.
Reasons to read History: A NovelÂ
Elsa Morante’s “History” is one of the most significant anti-war novels of the 21st century, told from the perspective of ordinary people. The title of the novel reflects both the personal history of Ida and her family, grappling with hunger and bombs falling on Rome, and the broader historical context of the Second World War. The novel was a bestseller in Italy and is considered Elsa Morante’s masterpiece. With its 600 pages and numerous side characters, it can be a challenging read. “History” was adapted into a film in 1986 by Luigi Comencini, featuring Claudia Cardinale. In 2024, a television series was broadcasted on Italian television, based on this novel. Elsa Morante won the Premio Viareggio in 1948 for her debut “Lies and Sorcery” and the Premio Strega in 1957 for “Arturo’s Island”. She was the first woman to receive the Premio Strega, Italy’s most prestigious literary award.
Setting: Rome (Italy)
Original title: La Storia
Year of publication: 1974
Nr of pages: 600
