Summary
Summary of The Intruder
Key ideas
Key idea 1
A proud husband explains himself
Tullio Hermil, a wealthy man of Rome, tells his own story. He has cheated on his wife for years while believing himself above ordinary rules. When he discovers that Giuliana has also been unfaithful, his claim to fine feeling faces a test he cannot control.
The Intruder places his polished explanations beside the pride they conceal. What matters is not only what this husband does, but how calmly he can make his own conduct seem reasonable.
Key idea 2
Freedom belongs to him alone
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Key idea 3
Illness awakens his old tenderness
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Key idea 4
Her betrayal wounds his pride
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Key idea 5
The child becomes an enemy
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Key idea 6
Explanations keep guilt at a distance
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Key idea 7
Beautiful language makes cruelty more unsettling
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Key idea 8
Conscience speaks and pride answers
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The rest of the summary, written and spoken, and the whole book: free to start.
Read the rest freeWho it’s for
For readers who love dark, close studies of one troubled mind, and fans of Dostoevsky or French psychological fiction. Pride, jealousy, guilt and self-deception shape this intimate portrait of a husband who thinks himself above ordinary rules.
What this book is
The Intruder is a short novel by the Italian writer Gabriele D'Annunzio. It first appeared in 1892 under the Italian title L'innocente, which means The Innocent One. D'Annunzio wrote it in the years when he was becoming a leading voice of Italian decadent writing, and he drew on the fashionable psychological fiction of France and Russia. The book gives you something rare: a murderous mind explaining itself in calm, polished prose.
The story is told in the first person by Tullio Hermil, a wealthy man of Rome. He has cheated on his wife for years. He has also thought of himself as a man above ordinary rules. Then he discovers that his wife, Giuliana, has been unfaithful to him, and that her betrayal will bring a child into the house. Tullio claims to be a man of fine feeling, and the book shows how far his pride can take him. In this summary you will meet the main figures, follow the story up to its last turn, and see how the telling works. Let us begin with the marriage itself.
In this summary
- 1A husband who thinks he is freeFree
- 2Illness brings love back to life
- 3A secret in the house
- 4The child who does not belong
- 5Pride, guilt and the cost of self-deception
- 6How the novel is told
Key point 1 of 6
A husband who thinks he is free
The novel opens in the mind of Tullio Hermil, who belongs to the comfortable upper class of Rome. He is cultured, restless and proud of his own intelligence. He is married to Giuliana, a gentle woman who has borne him two daughters, Maria and Natalia. Tullio believes that a man like himself should not be bound by the small rules that govern others.
His chief proof of this belief is his mistress, Teresa Raffo. She is a woman of strong appetite and a quick, worldly manner. Tullio has taken up with her openly enough that Giuliana knows of the affair. Yet he tells himself that he has never stopped caring for his wife in a higher and purer way. This is the first sign that he is a man who excuses himself.
The early pages show how he speaks of Giuliana. She is, in his eyes, almost a saint, a patient creature who forgives everything. He describes her goodness with real feeling. But he also treats it as something that belongs to him, a quiet possession that will always be waiting at home.
Pay attention to this opening, because it sets the terms of everything that follows. Tullio is not a simple brute. He is a thoughtful man who has trained himself to turn his faults into virtues. That habit is what makes his later fall so unsettling to watch.
That’s 1 of 6 key points.
The rest of the summary, written and spoken, and the whole book: free to start.
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Check yourself
What most deeply wounds Tullio when he discovers Giuliana’s affair?
Right. “The key point is that what hurts Tullio is less the loss of her love than the wound to his own pride.”Not quite. “The key point is that what hurts Tullio is less the loss of her love than the wound to his own pride.”
Who is the intruder named in the title?
Right. “The intruder of the title is the coming child.”Not quite. “The intruder of the title is the coming child.”
How does Tullio’s storytelling reveal his self-deception?
Right. “Tullio is always explaining himself, and his explanations are always flattering.”Not quite. “Tullio is always explaining himself, and his explanations are always flattering.”
Who’s who
- Tullio Hermil
- Tullio is Giuliana’s wealthy, cultured husband, an unfaithful Roman who considers himself above ordinary moral rules.
- Giuliana Hermil
- Giuliana is Tullio’s gentle wife and the mother of their two daughters, whose patience he takes for granted.
- Teresa Raffo
- Teresa is Tullio’s worldly, passionate mistress, offering him an escape from the quiet life of his marriage.
- Federico Hermil
- Federico is Tullio’s steady brother, who manages the family land and serves as his trusted confidant.
- Filippo Arborio
- Filippo is an admired writer in Tullio’s social circle who has had a brief affair with Giuliana.
- Maria and Natalia
- Maria and Natalia are Tullio and Giuliana’s young daughters, whose presence reminds their father of his family responsibilities.
About this edition
Every format is free to start, and print and large print are at cost.
- LengthAbout 88,000 words
- Reading timeAbout 5 h 50 min
- FormatseBook, large-print eBook, audiobook, 15-minute summary
- LanguagesEnglish and 11 other languages
Questions about The Intruder
What is The Intruder by D'Annunzio about?
It is about Tullio Hermil, a wealthy Roman who has cheated on his wife and then learns she has been unfaithful. Her pregnancy brings his jealousy and pride to a dark pitch, and he tells the story himself.
What does the title The Intruder mean?
The Italian title is L'innocente, meaning the innocent one. The English title, The Intruder, stresses how Tullio sees the coming child, as a stranger forced into his home and name.
When was The Intruder written and is it a true story?
It was published in 1892 and is a work of fiction. D'Annunzio wrote it in the style of the psychological novel then popular in Europe, and it is not an account of real events.
Is The Intruder hard to read?
No. The plot is simple: a husband learns his wife has betrayed him, and the story follows from there. Tullio tells it himself in a calm, clear voice, and the book is short, so you always know where you stand.
Who is Tullio Hermil and can he be trusted?
Tullio is the narrator and chief character, a cultured Roman aristocrat. He often excuses his own faults, so readers are meant to question his account and weigh what he does against what he says.
