"The Gadfly" is a timeless novel by Irish-born British writer Ethel Voynich, first published in 1897. Set in 1840s Italy during the tumultuous period of the Risorgimento, this gripping story explores themes of faith, disillusionment, revolution, romance, and heroism. The novel centers on the life of Arthur Burton, a young English Catholic who travels to Italy to study for the priesthood but becomes entangled in revolutionary activities.