is Italian woman writer Neera’s ninth novel, published in 1887 as part of a trilogy (

and

) defined by the writer as the “trittico della fanciulla” [trilogy of the young woman] dedicated to the exploration of post-Unification Italian reality “dalla parte di lei” [from the female perspective] (qtd. in Arslan,

128). With this novel, Neera explores female reality within the high ranks of society. Lydia is a young wealthy aristocrat who, unlike the female protagonist of the writer’s previous novel

, possesses a substantial dowry to rely upon for securing her future marriage. Neera reveals the difficulty, however, also for women of elevated social status to marry according to their personal aspirations, avoiding social,…

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Citation: Ramsey-Portolano, Catherine. "Lydia". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 28 February 2019 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=31982, accessed 16 April 2024.]

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