Originally published London: MacGibbon & Kee, 1962.

Federico De Roberto (1861-1927) was an Italian writer, who became well-known for his novel I Vicerè (1894), translated as The Viceroys. He began his writing career as a journalist for national newspapers, where he met Giovanni Verga and Luigi Capuana. Verga introduced him into the literary circles of Milan. He wrote several books, and in 1894 his novel I Vicerè was published.