A novel inspired by Little Women, set around MANCHESTER
Novel set in the DOLOMITES
25th May 2026
The Duke by Matteo Melchiorre, novel set in the DOLOMITES.
TR: Antonella Lettieri
The story is set in a fictional town in the Dolomites.
The Duke is a superb work of literary fiction, which was short-listed for the International Booker Prize 2026. It’s an intense exploration of the internal conflict the narrator “The Duke” experiences while deciding which matters most; his noble ancestry or his personal qualities. He comes to ask himself: should he automatically command respect as the “lord of the manor” or should he have to prove himself first? Is some other enterprising soul equally deserving of respect – and even worthy of the lands of his ancestors?
The Duke is an ironic nickname given to the narrator, Cimamonte (he is never fully named), by the locals when he returns to live in his ancestral home in the foothills of the Dolomites. He is content to live quietly in the dilapidated manor house set on the side of the Mountain. Here, he devotes himself to the scholarly study of his family’s papers. He doesn’t interact much with the villagers, save for Nelso Tabióna– who offers advice and assists in farming aspects of the estate – and Dina, who brings him meals, unasked, each day. Occasionally he makes a trip to the local bar. The estate he has inherited has been neglected and, some ten years after the Duke installed himself in Vallorgàna, he discovers that he is being challenged. Over the years, Mario Fastréda has established himself as the de facto village leader and he has been stealing wood from the Cimamonte estate. Should the Duke turn a blind eye or rise to face the challenge?
This is a long book but it really doesn’t seem to be, I become so engrossed in the Duke’s problems. He is definitely a flawed hero, if indeed he is a hero at all. It is painful to see the mistakes that he makes, often due to his own arrogance or stubbornness. Yet his attitude is more than matched by the guile and cunning of his opponent. There’s a wonderful humour in the book’s playful language and irony, for example when the Duke thinks crossly to himself that he can’t get a word out of the loud-mouthed locals.
The Duke himself narrates the tale and he is very much in his own head throughout. His inner debating leads to indecision and paralysis but then he acts impulsively, completely against his better judgement. He constantly looks backwards for clues to how his ancestors have influenced the way that he is, yet also to blame them for his character. The summoning of elements of mystery and magic seem completely irrational and at the same time fitting within the story.
The book has a modern but timeless setting. The location might be fictional, but the poetic descriptions of the claustrophobic valley and soaring Mountain are just beautiful and immediately call to mind similar locations. It focusses on the importance of tradition versus modernisation in the environment. It also examines the effects of neglect on the natural world and imagines the ultimate consequences of the lack of human stewardship of the land.
I highly recommended The Duke to readers who love rich storytelling, humour, genealogy and memorable characters. In my opinion, it’s not to be missed. This is Melchiorre’s first novel and I sincerely hope Foundry Editions will bring us whatever he writes next.
Sue for the TripFiction Team
Catch our reviewer Sue: TwitterX @SueKelsoRyan / IG @SueKelosRyan / BlueSky @suekelsoryan.bsky.social
Join team TripFiction on Social Media:
Twitter (@TripFiction), Facebook (@TripFiction.Literarywanderlust), YouTube (TripFiction #Literarywanderlust), Instagram (@TripFiction) and Pinterest (@TripFiction) and BlueSky(tripfiction.bsky.social) and Threads (@tripfiction)
Please wait...
