Physical description

Hard cover book. A Village Commune
Author: Ouida/Marie Louise de la Ramée
Publisher: George Robertson
Date: 1881-1882
Further Information: Light blue Cloth hardcover with lettering and patterning to spine in black. The spine has a Library inscription written in black texter.

Publication type

fiction

Inscriptions & markings

Paste down front end paper has a sticker from Warrnambool Public Library covered by a sticker from Corangamite Regional Library Service
Front loose end paper has a stamp from Corangamite Regional Library Service
The Flyleaf has the name "Louise De La Ranie" written in blue ink.

Summary

The story is set in the fictional Italian commune of Vezzaja and Ghiralda, centred on the village of Santa Rosalia. Like all Italian communes, it is supposed to enjoy independence guaranteed by legislative autonomy. In practice, a chain of councils and a syndicate controlled by the local mayor hands power down to a secretary and two assistants, who use bureaucratic zeal to harass the villagers.
The human story follows poor villagers, including old Pippo and his granddaughter Viola, and the miller and his family. In the novel, petty municipal rules turn ugly. Dogs are poisoned, and Carmelo is put on trial before carabinieri while his family looks on in fear. Ouida's target is the petty corruption and cruelty of local officialdom in the new, unified Italy. One reader's summary describes the corruption and cronyism of government officials and the cruelty they meted out to hapless villagers.