Antonio Fogazzaro's An Idea of Hermes Torranza Summary

Fogazzaro, a native of Vicenza, first established his literary career as a poet before transitioning into an author of short stories and novels. Stylistically and philosophically, Fogazzaro shares many similarities with the Romantics, particularly his interest in emotion. He was very interested in religion, specifically the relationship between the Catholic Church and the modern world. He advocated a progressive form of Christianity influenced by modernism, a philosophy which the Catholic Church would eventually condemn.

As the story opens, the narrator recalls the thoughts of a Professor Farsatti of Padua. Mount San Dona—the setting of this story—was, in his mind, quite contemptible, reeking of pretension and reminding one of French poetry. Since that time, San Dona has changed under the rule of Sior Beneto, the father of the...