lafcadio's adventures

A novel of unpredictable freedom, set in Paris, Rome and southern Italy. Lafcadio is a young man without a settled family or fixed rules, who is drawn to the idea of acting on pure impulse, with no motive that society could explain. His path crosses that of a devout, anxious family and of a swindling circle with secrets. Part comedy, part moral puzzle, the book plays with chance and the question of whether any act can truly be free. It is a lively, ironic work and a famous example of Gide's playful side.