The novel "Il piacere" was translated in English with the name "The
Child of Pleasure" and was written in 1886. Protagonist is the count
Andrew Sperelli, whose motto is «it needs ''to do'' his own life as it
makes a work of art». Poet, painter, musician, he has established his
abode in the building Zuccari near Trinità de'' Monti: he spends his
days among worldly occupations, surrounds of elegant people and of
precious objects. Andrew is tormented from the memory of a complicated
and sensual relationship with the enigmatic Helen Muti, brusquely
truncated by the sudden departure of the woman from Rome. After a brief
period of isolation, it plunges him in a new series of adventures,
until a jealous rival it challenges him to duel and hurts him. Andrew
surrenders to a convalescence «purifier» in the villa of a rich cousin,
at Schifanoia. Here he knows a chaste and sensitive creature, Maria
Ferres, wife of a minister of Guatemala. He deludes to have a spiritual
love for her, but soon their relationship clouds and in the contact
with Maria he tries to reproduce the feelings already tried with Helen
overlapping the images of the two women. To the peak of the embrace,
Andrew allows to escape the name of the ancient lover: Maria runs away
aghast.