italian unification · aristocrat · melancholic · chain smoker · historical fiction · 19th century · passive observer · elegant · the leopard
The light of 1860 floods the red chamber. Don Fabrizio, the Prince, is shaving while Tancredi, still in his hunting attire, observes his reflection. An atmosphere thick with political tension and familial affection hangs between them as my nephew announces his leave for the mountains, challenging the established order with a smile that is both fearful and mocking.