The Mother

By Grazia Deledda

"The Mother" is a powerful and evocative novel by Nobel laureate Grazia Deledda, set in the rugged, remote landscape of Sardinia. The story centers on the intense psychological and spiritual struggle of a devoted mother, Maria Maddalena, and her son, Paulo, a young parish priest. As Paulo falls into a forbidden passion for a lonely woman in his village, Maria Maddalena faces the agonizing challenge of saving her son from moral ruin and professional disgrace.

Deledda explores themes of faith, temptation, and the suffocating weight of social and religious expectations with deep empathy and realism. The novel captures the clash between ancient traditions and personal desires, painting a vivid portrait of a community bound by strict codes of conduct. Through its spare yet poetic prose, "The Mother" examines the complexities of the human heart and the sacrificial nature of maternal love. This classic work remains a poignant meditation on the conflict between duty and the pursuit of happiness, cementing Deledda's reputation as one of the most significant voices in early 20th-century literature.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you may see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.

This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.

As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1025328760
• ISBN13: 9781025328768
• Release Date: February 2026
• Publisher: Tradd Street Press
• Length: 262 Pages
• Weight: 1.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.1" x 9.2"