The World Machine

Set in 1960s rural Italy, the story follows a small-time farmer who believes that humanity is a collection of machines destined to create a techno-utopia. His radical ideas clash with those around him, particularly his wife, leading to personal turmoil and societal conflict. His journey to Rome to share his vision reveals the fragility of his psyche, as he grapples with paranoia and delusion. Paolo Volponi's novel intricately explores the tension between traditional rural life and the demands of modernity, highlighting the struggle for progress in a resistant society.