“The Legend of the Soul Thief,” the latest work by Fabrizio Voltolini, a writer from the Lake Garda region, has been available in bookstores for a few weeks now. This historical novel set in Lucca during the 16th century, published by Albatros and consisting of 256 pages, skillfully explores human passions, scientific thought, and the social tensions of the time. The protagonist, Bartolomeo, a medical student in Padua, embodies the spirit of emerging humanism and challenges religious dogmas in a context dominated by faith and fear. Together with Matilde, the young woman who represents his emotional rebellion, he experiences a forbidden love that becomes a symbol of an era in which the freedom of thought is a perilous act.
Voltolini offers a rich and engaging narrative, transporting the reader to the emblematic places of Renaissance Lucca. He does not merely tell a story but invites reflection on how much we are willing to sacrifice to know and live according to our own truth. With this novel, the author reaffirms his original voice in contemporary Italian literature, already recognized through various literary awards and numerous previous publications.
