After the Divorce

"This novel begins with Constantino Ledda's conviction and sentencing for the murder of his cruel uncle. Though innocent of the crime, he accepts the guilty verdict as punishment for marrying Giovanna Era through a civil ceremony rather than an expensive church wedding. When her husband is taken away, Giovanna has no way to provide for herself, her mother, or her son, who soon dies of malnutrition. Out of desperation she divorces Constantino, according to a new law for wives of convicts, and marries a wealthy but brutish landowner. When the true murderer confesses and Constantino returns, he and Giovanna begin a forbidden and ultimately destructive affair."--