Set in Sicily in the 1677, this book is historical fiction based on a real woman who ruled for 27 days. At the time, Sicily was ruled by a Spanish viceroy. When he died, his Royal Council took advantage of the opportunity to enact edicts in their own interests. These are the bad guys of the story. They are thieves, murderers, embezzlers, and pedophiles. They make a brothel out of a home for orphaned girls. Unbeknownst to them, the viceroy has left his wife, Donna Eleanora, in charge. She eventually plays a key role in uncovering their criminal behaviors.

This story is filled with intrigue, exploitation, and corruption. It a farcical story containing both comedic antics and serious topics. The Spanish Inquisition makes an appearance. I particularly liked that it is based on a little-known episode in history. I found it entertaining but a little on the crude side for my taste. ( )

Camilleri is amazing: using the minimal information recorded, he writes a wonderful historical fiction novel about Donna Eleonora di Mora, who governed Sicily as its Viceroy for just one month in 1677, following the death of her husband. She is strikingly beautiful, compassionate, and courageous and does a remarkable job rooting out corruption, bribery, and debauchery among the ruling council and Church. Eleonora brings new laws, helping the poor city and unfortunates, becoming beloved by the people and hated by the powerful, misogynist elite and church leadership, who engineer her dismissal as she serves at the pleasure of the King of Spain. I think Sarterelli could have done more with Eleanora's dialogue, which was often not translated at all, leaving the reader to determine what she said. ( )

The Revolution of the Moon - Andrea Camilleri

A delight to read, The Revolution of the Moon is rich in humour and pathos but equally intellectually rewarding and thought provoking. A beautifully imagined recreation of seventeenth century Sicily. Donna Eleonora Di Mora, is named as her husband’s successor as Viceroy when he dies. The ruling Council is forced to accept her authority until the king either confirms her position or sends a replacement from Spain. Donna Eleonora knows that Palermo is poverty stricken and the councillors are soon aware that she will not be told what to do. What follows is a battle of wills, a fight against calumny, reactionary politics and corruption on one side and an attempt to smother the birth of good governance on the other. Donna Eleonora is determined to do something to alleviate the misery of the people. The church and the city fathers, (men of self interest, greedy, venal, cunning and devious), plot and scheme against the lady they consider a menace and a heretic.
Camilleri has a dry wit, irreverent eye and a sense of the farcical. Yet in many ways this is a dark novel. The Revolution of the Moon is the story of a brave and intelligent woman who saw a chance to make a difference for the people of Sicily and to fight for a better system of governance. The Council, oblivious to anything that does not further their own interests, (fuelled by misogyny), attempt to thwart donna Eleonora at every turn. Her reforms are mocked and donna Eleonora exposed to a campaign of hate. This is a very modern tale because the lessons of history are rarely observed; the misogyny at the heart of the novel, the depth of depravity of an unfettered male elite are all exposed. What emerges is a credible portrait of the seventeenth century world, of the Royal and Papal courts and the life of Sicily, both rich and poor. There is a sense from centuries past of how the modern Sicily became the island it is today.
Camilleri has a knack for exposing hypocrisy and the falseness in people. In farce there is truth. The characters are rounded and complex and as the novel unfolds the gravity of the story takes hold. By the last third I was gripped by a desperate desire to see things unfold in a certain way. I know which side I was on and I felt the tension at the denouement.
Camilleri is a grand old man of Italian letters, now in his 90's, he has published many works but it is only in recent years that his non-Montalano novels have been published in English. Now Europa Editions have brought this novel and will be publishing another of Camilleri’s historical novel in December, 'The Sacco Gang'. ( )

(Come inizia:) "La siduta del Sacro Regio Consiglio che il Viciré don Angel de Guzman, marchisi di Castel de Roderigo, tiniva a Palazzo ogni matina di mircoldì alle deci spaccate, macari quel Jorno, che era il tri di settembriro del milli e seicento e sittantasetti, accomenzò come a 'u solito, seguenno 'na procidura rigidamenti stabilita. Come prima cosa, dalli sei all'otto, cinco cammarere..."

Da Camilleri un gioiellino da leggere assolutamente! Un'affascinante viceré donna (realmente esistita per 4 settimane) nella Sicilia del 1600. ( )