Why Chinese Revolutionaries Loved The Gadfly

Most of us learned about The Gadfly in Adam Curtis’ recent documentary, “Can’t Get You Out of My Head.” He talked about how the book was popular with maoist revolutionaries in China. The book, published in 1897 was not popular at the time but both Soviet and Chinese young people sought the author at her home in New York because her book had been so inspirational to them and their revolutionary ideas. Couched in a torturous romance are two people who sacrifice themselves for a greater good. I wrote a critique of this book for grad school, and I’ve adapted my work here for my readers with more explanations and politics than I’m allowed to write about in my program. I encourage you to pick up the book. It’s slow in parts for sure, but my book club enjoyed reading it overall.

A Rough Outline of the Complicated Plot

The book’s central plot is the political revolution in northern Italy in the post-Napoleonic period of the 19th century. Both characters have a whole arc, from the innocence and naïveté of youth to the hardness of adulthood and tragedy.

Arthur is a devout catholic young boy. He does not quite understand politics when he gets involved in a dangerous political game. Gemma is young, radical, and ready to participate in change as young people are wont to do. Arthur decides to get involved…