The Heart of Rome

Name: The Heart of Rome
Author: F. Marion Crawford

The story revolves around a wealthy American woman who travels to Rome and becomes embroiled in a mystery involving an ancient artifact, a murder, and a romantic affair with an Italian nobleman. As she delves deeper into the mystery, she uncovers dark secrets about her own past and the true nature of the artifact.

By F. Marion Crawford · First published 1903 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Social Commentary, Historical Fiction · 25 chapters · 117,644 words

First lines

The Baroness Volterra drove to the Palazzo Conti in the heart of Rome at nine o'clock in the morning, to be sure of finding Donna Clementina at home. She had tried twice to telephone, on the previous afternoon, but the central office had answered that "the communication was interrupted. " She was very anxious to see Clementina at once, in order to get her support for a new and complicated charity. She only wanted the name, and expected nothing else, for the Conti had very little ready money, though they still lived as if they were rich. This did not matter to their friends, but was a source of constant anxiety to their creditors, and to the good Pompeo Sassi, the steward of the ruined estate. He alone knew what the Conti owed, for none of them knew much about it themselves, though he had done his best to make the state of things clear to them.

What this Textopian page supports

The Heart of Rome is listed on Textopian as a novel by F. Marion Crawford, dated 1903 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

Work type: Novel
Author: F. Marion Crawford
Date: 1903 CE
Language: English
Genres: Literary Fiction, Social Commentary, Historical Fiction, Drama, Romance
Length: 117,644 words
Structure: 25 chapters, 2,417 paragraphs
Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)

Good citation fit

Work identity for The Heart of Rome by F. Marion Crawford
Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters

What should a reader notice first when entering The Heart of Rome?
How does this novel by F. Marion Crawford fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
Where does Literary Fiction first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

Genres

Literary Fiction — The book explores complex characters and social themes, focusing on the decline of aristocracy and personal relationships.
Social Commentary — It critiques social class structures and the consequences of financial ruin among the aristocracy.
Historical Fiction — Set in Rome, it reflects historical societal norms and the cultural backdrop of the time.
Drama — The narrative is driven by emotional conflicts and character interactions, highlighting personal and familial struggles.