The Gadfly

The Gadfly is a novel by Irish writer Ethel Voynich published in 1897 (United States June; Great Britain September of the same year) set in 1840s Italy under the dominance of Austria a time of tumultuous revolt and uprisings.[1] The story centres on the life of the protagonist Arthur Burton as a member of the Youth movement and his antagonist Padre Montanelli. A thread of a tragic relationship between Arthur and his love Gemma simultaneously runs through the story. It is a story of faith disillusionment revolution romance and