Cover of The Gadfly

The Gadfly

by Ethel Voynich

First published
1897
Reading level
Easy
Price
Free

About the book

"The Gadfly" by E. L. Voynich is a novel published in 1897, set during 1840s Italy under Austrian rule. The story follows Arthur Burton, an English Catholic who renounces his faith, fakes his death, and returns to Italy as a revolutionary journalist writing satirical tracts under the pseudonym "the gadfly." A tale of faith, disillusionment, and heroism unfolds through Arthur's tragic relationships with his lover Gemma and Padre Montanelli, exploring the intertwining of religious, romantic, and revolutionary passions against the backdrop of the Italian Risorgimento.

  • Italy
  • Revolutionaries

Updated September 2026. Public domain in the USA. Text and summary from Project Gutenberg eBook #3431. The Gadfly on Wikipedia.