A Life (1892)

Alfonso the bank clerk and his life. Most interesting for the local social divisions -- between town and country folk, the eductated and uneducated, the rich and the poor. Alfonso exists miserably on the borders of all of these, and we hear about his angst in perhaps too oft repeated detail. ( )

This is the first ever book by Svevo apart from one on tram journeys. Triete is the backdrop - everyone is always walking up or down the Corso. Poor old Alfonso, the bank clerk, he does lead an unhappy life. It is all very analytical and soul searching and you rapidly realise he is doomed. ( )