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The Gadfly
Religion, love and revolution collide in this swashbuckling saga of Risorgimento Italy
Set in Italy during the Risorgimento, The Gadfly is a thrilling tale of betrayal and revolution. It follows the adventures and misadventures of a mysterious satirist, a hardworking lady radical and a Catholic cardinal with a dark secret. Published in 1897 by Irish writer Ethel Lilian Voynich (or ELV, as she preferred to be known), The Gadfly sold millions of copies in the Soviet Union and the People's Republic of China, though it has been largely forgotten in the English-speaking world―until now. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll smuggle guns over the border and, if you're anything like the Gadfly, you'll do it all with incomparable style. Mandylion Press' second run of The Gadfly includes a new preface by Mandylion cofounder Madeline Porsella and a visual glossary illustrating the world of the novel.
Ethel Lilian (Boole) Voynich (1864–1960) was born in Cork, Ireland, and raised in Lancashire, England. Her peripatetic adult life was defined by passions for music and leftist politics. In 1902, she married Wilifrid Michael Voynich, a Polish revolutionary and antiquarian book dealer. She spent her final decades in New York City, where she worked in a music school and as a translator of Russian, Polish and French texts.
Set in Italy during the Risorgimento, The Gadfly is a thrilling tale of betrayal and revolution. It follows the adventures and misadventures of a mysterious satirist, a hardworking lady radical and a Catholic cardinal with a dark secret. Published in 1897 by Irish writer Ethel Lilian Voynich (or ELV, as she preferred to be known), The Gadfly sold millions of copies in the Soviet Union and the People's Republic of China, though it has been largely forgotten in the English-speaking world―until now. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll smuggle guns over the border and, if you're anything like the Gadfly, you'll do it all with incomparable style. Mandylion Press' second run of The Gadfly includes a new preface by Mandylion cofounder Madeline Porsella and a visual glossary illustrating the world of the novel.
Ethel Lilian (Boole) Voynich (1864–1960) was born in Cork, Ireland, and raised in Lancashire, England. Her peripatetic adult life was defined by passions for music and leftist politics. In 1902, she married Wilifrid Michael Voynich, a Polish revolutionary and antiquarian book dealer. She spent her final decades in New York City, where she worked in a music school and as a translator of Russian, Polish and French texts.
- GenresClassics
400 pages, Paperback
Published October 28, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
October 11, 2026
Odd charmer of a novel and true hidden gem status:
“Set in Italy during the Risorgimento, The Gadfly is a thrilling tale of betrayal and revolution. It follows the adventures and misadventures of a mysterious satirist, a hardworking lady radical and a Catholic cardinal with a dark secret. Published in 1897 by Irish writer Ethel Lilian Voynich (or ELV, as she preferred to be known), The Gadfly sold millions of copies in the Soviet Union and the People's Republic of China, though it has been largely forgotten in the English-speaking world--until now. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll smuggle guns over the border and, if you're anything like the Gadfly, you'll do it all with incomparable style.” - from the publisher, Mandylion Press, who have a cool mission statement: “Mandylion unearths lost literary gems written by women and weirdos in the (very) long nineteenth century.” plus this edition has lovely cover, casing, glossary and typographical elements. You can tell alot of love goes into this project.
“Set in Italy during the Risorgimento, The Gadfly is a thrilling tale of betrayal and revolution. It follows the adventures and misadventures of a mysterious satirist, a hardworking lady radical and a Catholic cardinal with a dark secret. Published in 1897 by Irish writer Ethel Lilian Voynich (or ELV, as she preferred to be known), The Gadfly sold millions of copies in the Soviet Union and the People's Republic of China, though it has been largely forgotten in the English-speaking world--until now. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll smuggle guns over the border and, if you're anything like the Gadfly, you'll do it all with incomparable style.” - from the publisher, Mandylion Press, who have a cool mission statement: “Mandylion unearths lost literary gems written by women and weirdos in the (very) long nineteenth century.” plus this edition has lovely cover, casing, glossary and typographical elements. You can tell alot of love goes into this project.
September 23, 2026
Entertaining drama with a great ending. Definitely worth a couple reads. I read this bc of Cărtărescu’s main character in Solenoid.
Also this edition from Mandylion press is one my favorite books; the care and attention that went into the design and feel of the book made the whole experience enjoyable.
Also this edition from Mandylion press is one my favorite books; the care and attention that went into the design and feel of the book made the whole experience enjoyable.
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May 26, 2026🥴 🔨 ! 🥴🗡️, even !
September 2, 2026
Heartbreaking and thrilling.
“How often had he said to himself with bitter assurance: I need not trouble about it, that wound was healed long ago. Now, after all these years, it was laid bare before him, and he saw it bleeding still… Surely there was no other misery like this—to be willing to forgive, to long to forgive; and to know that it was hopeless—that he could not, dared not forgive.”
“How often had he said to himself with bitter assurance: I need not trouble about it, that wound was healed long ago. Now, after all these years, it was laid bare before him, and he saw it bleeding still… Surely there was no other misery like this—to be willing to forgive, to long to forgive; and to know that it was hopeless—that he could not, dared not forgive.”
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews