Almost alone among established Italian novelists, Alberto Moravia has tried to adapt to present-day reality the techniques he has developed over decades of professional writing. His new novel, Time of Desecration, is an attempt to reveal the psychology of young people who are in rebellion and who are desperate enough to engage in anti-social activity. The Italian title, Inner Life, more accurately reflects Moravia's intention than the English title, for he is concerned with the private motivations of his characters and cares little about political slogans or the details of terrorist activities. (p. 34)

[Desideria] reveals herself as one caught between two worlds, each of which is filled with deceit and cruelty. The values of the rich seem to be about the same as those of the young revolutionaries she meets and who also want to make love to her. She discovers that for the most part they are...