The Virgin of 18 Carats

Pitigrilli [Dino Segre]

The author's second novel, published as 'Dolicocefala Bionda' in 1936, translated here by Winfield Thompson, for the publisher's 'Tales of Passion Library'. Dino Segre's life as a journalist, prolific novelist, Fascist spy is well documented; his novels are less celebrated though this one was reissued in the 1970s with an introduction by Umberto Eco: 'Pitigrilli was an enjoyable writer – spicy and rapid – like lightning'.