‘The Italian’, (in full
‘The Italian; or, The Confessional of the Black Penitents: A Romance’) is a novel by Ann Radcliffe, published in three volumes in 1797.
‘The Italian’ is a classic gothic novel, renowned throughout history; a tale of secrecy and intrigue that incorporates seemingly supernatural events to explain a very complicated plot.
The main plot concerns the attempts of various characters to prevent the marriage of Vincentio di Vivaldi, a gallant and persistent nobleman, to Ellena di Rosalba, a fair maiden of unknown ancestry. 
The protagonist, Vivaldi, falls in love and plans to marry Ellena, a young woman with a secret family history, against his family’s wishes. His mother and Schedoni conspire to separate them by kidnapping and imprisoning Vivaldi. Eventually, Ellena’s family history is revealed, allowing her to be acknowledged as a suitable match for Vivaldi.