The Isle of the Dead

★★★★★ The Isle of the Dead is an astonishing novel.

★★★★★ Perfect book.

★★★★★ A pleasure to read, very fluid writing, keeps you glued to the pages.

★★★★★ A book that evokes Poe. Beautiful Victorian dark atmospheres.

THE ISLE OF THE DEAD - LOVE AND LOSS
A sophisticated supernatural tale that transcends genre boundaries, perfect for readers who love historical fiction with a gothic twist.

• A MATURE GOTHIC NOVEL: A sophisticated supernatural story exploring dark themes and profound mysteries, crafted for an adult audience
• AUTHENTIC VICTORIAN STYLE: Narrated through the protagonist's voice, masterfully recreating the language and atmosphere of the late 19th century
• HISTORICAL ITALIAN SETTING: Journey to 1885 Italy, where history and folklore intertwine on a mysterious island off the Ligurian coast
• SUPERNATURAL MYSTERIES: Hidden tombs, unsettling rituals, and ancestral secrets unfold in a spiral of mounting tension
• COMPLETE STANDALONE STORY: A self-contained novel offering a satisfying narrative experience
• PERFECT FOR LOVERS OF: Mystery fiction, gothic horror, historical novels, and classic supernatural tales
• INSPIRED BY ART: A fascinating connection to Arnold B?cklin's paintings, particularly his famous "Isle of the Dead"

Year 1885. Andrea Nascimbeni, a Veronese anthropologist, visits the so-called 'island of the dead' off the Ligurian coast of Zoagli, having seen its 'exotic' funerary structures depicted in the paintings of his friend Arnold B?cklin. His intention to innovate his studies plunges him into the suffocating atmosphere of the unnamed town, where architecture for the deceased receives more attention than that for the living.

Written as if penned by Nascimbeni himself, this standalone novel masterfully captures the voice and sensibilities of the late 19th century. As supernatural elements begin to manifest, delirium envelops him hour by hour, perhaps provoked by the numerous sinister mysteries he encounters. Not even fever can prevent him from tracking down the open and hidden tombs, invisible to casual visitors.

Set against the meticulously researched backdrop of 1880s Italy, the story weaves historical accuracy with dark mysticism. Exasperated by the island's secrets and the omert? of its inhabitants, Nascimbeni finds temporary comfort only in a woman he becomes infatuated with. However, nothing is as it seems, and an encounter with a mysterious man puts him on guard, urging him to leave the island.

The anthropologist, however, devises a way to stay hidden until the nearby '32nd' of October festival, humorously termed by the innkeeper who hosts him, knowing it's the moment when he can uncover the strange funeral rites celebrated there. The experience on the island becomes so unbearable, it leads to his abandonment of the profession.

A complete, self-contained novel that transcends genre boundaries, blending historical fiction with supernatural elements to create a haunting tale of discovery, obsession, and the price of forbidden knowledge.

FABRIZIO VALENZA, born in Verona in 1972, is a writer, philosopher, and teacher of creative writing. The Isle of the Dead is a novel inspired by Rachmaninov's symphonic poem and B?cklin's unsettling paintings. Valenza, known in Italy for the fantasy novel Story of Geshwa Olers and numerous horror novels, presents with The Isle of the Dead a gothic story set in the late nineteenth century, where faith in science clashes with belief in the supernatural.

☞ The author publishes his independent books under