Section 1: Introduction and Chapter 1 Summary

"The Italian" by Ann Radcliffe is a classic gothic novel, renowned throughout history. The protagonist, Vivaldi, falls in love and plans to marry Ellena, a young woman with a secret family history, against his family's wishes. His mother and Schedoni conspire to separate them by kidnapping and imprisoning Vivaldi. Eventually, Ellena's family history is revealed, allowing her to be acknowledged as a suitable match for Vivaldi. "The Italian" is a tale of secrecy and intrigue that incorporates seemingly supernatural events to explain a very complicated plot.

In the Introduction, it is 1764, and English travelers in Italy are amazed by the portico of Santa Maria del Pianto, a church belonging to the ancient convent of the order of the Black Penitents. Upon questioning a friar about a strange man in the church, they learn that he is an...