LA MAREMMANA: Marsh Lands

A psychological novel of two children in western Italy, who lose their father at an early age and whose mother, worn and overworked, has little time to give them. Precocious, curious,and undisciplined, they wander here and there -- and the girl, by the time she is fifteen, determines to get what she can by devious ways. With no education, and insufficient natural intelligence, she goes out way beyond her depth -- has several semi-disastrous affairs -- finally returns home. A rather unpleasant book,but intelligently handled.