Summary

The Leopard is the only novel by Italian author Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa. After being rejected by major publishers during the author’s lifetime, this work of historical fiction was published posthumously in 1958, won Italy's prestigious Strega Prize in 1959, and went on to become the top-selling novel in Italy’s history. Set in 1860s Sicily during the Italian unification, The Leopard tells the story of an aristocratic family grappling with social and political changes. Di Lampedusa offers a melancholic portrayal of a decadent Sicilian aristocracy threatened by revolutionary forces, weaving together themes of change, mortality, and the passing of an era.

Plot

Set in 1860s Sicily, The Leopard follows the aristocratic Salina family during the Italian unification known as the Risorgimento. As Giuseppe Garibaldi's forces advance through Sicily, Prince Fabrizio Salina grapples with the changing political landscape. The novel opens with Garibaldi's army landing on the Sicilian coast, threatening the old social order.

Prince Fabrizio's nephew, Tancredi Falconeri, joins Garibaldi's forces, disappointing his uncle. On a trip to the family's estate in Donnafugata, the Prince meets Don Calogero Sedara, the town's newly wealthy mayor. Tancredi becomes enamored with Sedara's beautiful daughter Angelica, much to the dismay of the Prince's daughter Concetta, who loves Tancredi. Despite his reservations about the match, Prince Fabrizio helps arrange Tancredi and Angelica's engagement.

The story then jumps forward two decades, with Prince Fabrizio on his deathbed surrounded by family. He reflects that he will be the last true Prince of Salina, the last “leopard.” The novel's final chapter takes place in 1910, focusing on Concetta, now 70 years old, living in the family home with her sisters.

Throughout the novel, Prince Fabrizio observes the decline of the old aristocratic order and the rise of a new middle class represented by figures like Don Calogero. He ultimately chooses to adapt rather than resist the societal changes, recognizing that some compromises are necessary for his family to maintain its position and influence in the new unified Italy.

Themes

• Decline of the aristocracy

• Social and political change in Sicily

• Tradition versus progress

• Mortality and the passage of time

• Class dynamics and social mobility

• Sicilian culture and identity

• Love, marriage, and family legacy

Setting

Set in Sicily during the 1860s, The Leopard unfolds against the backdrop of the Risorgimento, a pivotal period in Italian history that saw the unification of Italy. The novel vividly portrays the island's tumultuous transition from the old Bourbon monarchy to the new Italian state, capturing the social and political upheaval of the era.

The story primarily takes place in various locations across Sicily, including the fictional Salina family estate near Palermo and the town of Donnafugata. These settings serve as microcosms of the larger changes sweeping across the island and the Italian peninsula. The contrast between the opulent palaces of the aristocracy and the emerging bourgeois society reflects the shifting power dynamics of the time.

While focusing on Sicily, the novel alludes to broader geographical contexts. References to mainland Italy, particularly the advancing forces of Garibaldi's army from the north, highlight the island's position within the larger struggle for Italian unification. This interplay between local Sicilian culture and the wider Italian political landscape provides a rich tapestry for the novel's exploration of change and continuity in a rapidly evolving society.

Characters

• Don Fabrizio Corbera, Prince of Salina: The protagonist and patriarch of the Salina family, an aristocratic Sicilian prince grappling with the changing social and political landscape of 1860s Italy. Intelligent and perceptive, he recognizes the decline of the aristocracy but struggles to adapt. His passion for astronomy provides an escape from worldly concerns.

• Tancredi Falconeri: Don Fabrizio's charismatic and ambitious nephew. He skillfully navigates the changing political tides, joining Garibaldi's forces and later aligning with the new regime. Tancredi's pragmatic approach to a changing society contrasts with his uncle's more traditional outlook.

• Angelica Sedàra: The stunning daughter of the nouveau riche Don Calogero. She marries Tancredi, symbolizing the union of old aristocracy with new money. Angelica's beauty and charm allow her to integrate seamlessly into high society.

• Concetta: Don Fabrizio's daughter, who harbors unrequited love for Tancredi. Her character represents the fading aristocratic way of life. Concetta's inability to adapt to change leaves her isolated and bitter in her later years.

• Don Calogero Sedàra: The mayor of Donnafugata and Angelica's father. A shrewd and ambitious man who has risen from humble origins to become wealthy and influential, he represents the emerging middle class in Sicily.

• Father Pirrone: The family's Jesuit priest and confidant to Don Fabrizio. He provides spiritual guidance and insight into the changing times.

• Princess Maria Stella: Don Fabrizio's wife, a pious and somewhat dull woman who fails to fully understand or satisfy her husband.

• Francesco Paolo: Don Fabrizio's eldest son and heir. He plays a minor role in the novel, representing the next generation of the declining aristocracy.

• Bendicò: The family's Great Dane. Though an animal, Bendicò serves as a symbol of the Salina family's enduring spirit throughout the novel.

Quick facts

• Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa wrote The Leopard late in life, beginning the novel in his late 50s and dying before seeing it published.

• Di Lampedusa was inspired to write the novel by his cousin's success publishing poetry late in life.

• Rejected by two major Italian publishers during the author’s  lifetime, The Leopard was eventually published posthumously in 1958.

• The Leopard won Italy's prestigious Strega Prize in 1959 and went on to become the top-selling novel in Italian history.

• The main character, Prince Fabrizio, is largely based on the author's great-grandfather.

• The original Italian title Il Gattopardo actually refers to a serval cat, not a leopard.

• Many of the locations in the novel are based on real places from di Lampedusa's life in Sicily.

• The Leopard blends historical events of 1860s Sicily with fictional characters and storylines.

• The Leopard was adapted into a 1963 film by director Luchino Visconti. Starring Burt Lancaster, Claudia Cardinale, and Alain Delon, the lavish production won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival.

About the Author

Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa (1896-1957) was a Sicilian writer and nobleman best known for his only novel, The Leopard. Born into an aristocratic family in Palermo, he was educated by tutors as a child and developed a passion for literature, mastering several languages and devouring books from his family's extensive library. Though di Lampedusa inherited his father's princely title in 1934, much of the family's wealth and property had been lost by that time. He served briefly in the Italian army during both World Wars but otherwise led a quiet, largely solitary life devoted to reading and contemplation.

Di Lampedusa did not begin writing The Leopard until 1955, at age 58. Noted for its elegiac tone, the novel follows a Sicilian aristocratic family during the turbulent period of Italian unification in the 1860s. Though rejected by major publishers during the author’s lifetime, The Leopard was released in 1958, a year after his death, to great acclaim. It went on to become one of the most important Italian novels of the 20th century and in 1963 was adapted into an award-winning film by Luchino Visconti.

Beyond The Leopard, di Lampedusa produced several short stories, an unfinished novel, and critical writings on English and French literature. His sole novel secured his literary legacy, offering a nuanced exploration of social change and the passing of an era.