The Woman of Rome by Alberto Moravia (1947)

Lloyd

The Woman of Rome is the second novel by Alberto Moravia (1909 to 1990, Rome) I have so far had the great pleasure of reading.  The first was his Augustino.  I am not really able to say which of the two works I liked best but I do admit seeing Gina Lollobrigida played the lead in The Woman of Rome, a fascist era lady who often strolled the streets looking for customers made me wish I could time travel with a few Lira in my wallet.  

The Woman of Rome is a superb account of how a young girl becomes a prostitute, portrayed without the fantasies of Pretty Woman.  It is very explicit for 1947.  

Adriana lives with her mother in a flat in a poor area of Rome.  Her father deserted them long ago.  Her mother does embroidery work and Adriana helps her.  Adriana at sixteen or so has blossomed into a very voluptuous woman.  Her body is described in detail.  Her mother tells her with her looks she can marry well.  Adriana gets a job modeling nude for an artist.  She feels a sense of shame being naked for the first time in front of a man.  Her mother is glad to have the money and the artist makes no advances on Adriana.  Compressing a lot, Adriana has a girl friend that sees a man for money.  She, after some persuasion, sets up Adriana with a man.  The story is told by Adriana.  She really likes sex and her mother begins to accept her profession so Adriana graduates to street walker and patrolling the normal venues.  She becomes infatuated with various men and men, including an important police official, fall in love with her.  She begins to bring men to her apartment, shared with her mother who accepts her daughters work.  Her real thoughts on marriage is that most women end up a servant to their own family and obliged to have sex with their husband.  Adriana has conflicting wishes.  She wants her own house with a man that loves her but she also wants independence.  Walking the streets is exciting, you never know what the night will bring.  

We get to know the men she meets, her love, and her regular clients.  Italian men come off poorly.  

I found the portrayal of Adriana brilliant.  She is not at all educated though she develops street smarts.  It is also a fascinating account of life in Fascist Italy.  I read it in a translation by Tami Calliope

I endorse this book without reservation.  There are as of now three more of his works translated in English and available as Kindle editions and I hope to read them all. 

Please share your experiences with post 1945 Italian literature with us.

If you have seen the movie let us know.

Mel u