The Conformist – Alberto Moravia

A classic study of the fascist mind, I stumbled across this in a random fashion but I would be interested to read more from the same author. It tells of a man whose experiences in childhood and peculiarly strong desire to be “normal” culminate in his becoming a secret service operative in 1930s Italy. The mood is intense and oppressive, and the detachment of the central character reminded me of The Outsider.

I could’ve done without the epilogue which introduces a pointless and unlikely plot twist and a rather severe ending.