‘The Gadfly’ an Irish Novel by Ethel Voynich That has 107 Editions, 22 Language Translations and Seduced the USSR

"The Gadfly," was claimed as the one of the most popular English novels of the 20^th Century which were almost unseen in the English-speaking world; a global translation but now neglected in its original form. "The Gadfly" was written by an Irish writer Ethel Voynich where the novel was sold over 5 million copies in 107 editions and translated into 22 languages in the Soviet Union.

"The Gadfly," was critically inspired seven musical adaptations such as an opera by Prokofiev, five theater adaptations along with the version by George Bernard Shaw, also five additional film adaptations which featured by Shostakovich. Ethel Voynich's novel is a thrilling story of revolutionary perseverance, clerical betrayal, romantic love and religious devotion.

According to Bertrand Russel in the reports of The Guardian, Russell called the novel "The Gadfly" as one of the most exciting novels that he has read, and then his statement was published in New York in 1897. Two years right after its publication, one reviewer denounced the book as a barbaric and horrible character. By the following year, it was translated in Russia where the tsarist, a form of autocracy disapproved the critics; allowing the novel to hits its popularity.

Back in 1030's, "The Gadfly" was inspired another bestseller Nikolai Ostrovsky's "How the Steel Was Tempered" which was welcomed by the USSR and sold 35 million copies. Nikolai Ostrovsky's socialist novel focused on a young communist who suffers dreadfully for his sacrifices, which was an adaptation of the "The Gadfly." Ethel Voynich novel was boosted again by a 1955 Sovcolor film "The Gadfly Suite" by Aleksandr Faintsimmer it sold more than 39 million tickets and featured Shostakovich's score.

Originally "The Gadfly" story was set in Italy during the revolutionary cause of the 1830's until 1840's. A young Englishman protagonist, Arthur Burton who entered a Catholic seminary after her mother died where he became devoted to his new mentor and guardian Montanelli, not knowing that his mentor was his biological father. According to Classic FM, during his childhood, Arthur met his lover Gemma where he became involved in Young Italy movement against Austrian imperial Rule. Accidentally he betrayed his comrades after his confessions were relayed to the police and loses his faith in the church.

Arthur Borton fabricated his suicide and escaped to South America where he experienced years of degradation and torture. Then he returns to Italy in the guise of "The Gadfly," a fearless revolutionary whose true identity was forgotten.

TagsThe Gadfly, Ethel Voynich, Arthur Burton, Nikolai Ostrovsky's "How the Steel Was Tempered", Bertrand Russel, The Gadfly Review