Le Selve

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About this book

"Le Selve" by Ouida is a novel written in the late 19th century. Set in the vast Italian woodlands of Lazio, it follows Cyrille, a Russian exile turned estate steward, whose humane, orderly reforms clash with the ingrained brutality, poverty, and customs of the local squatters. At its heart stands Muriella, a strong, devout peasant who alone understands him, creating a stark, tense portrait of conscience, class, and survival amid a merciless rural world. The opening of the novel shows an old peasant dying neglected by his family, as Cyrille arrives too late, rebukes their callousness, and meets Muriella in the night, who warns him he is in danger.