The protagonist , Irene Corsini , imbued with his own sweet and energetic temperament , is one of the strongest female characters in Italian literature .
Caliph , published in 1964 , was his break - through novel .
The protagonist , Irene Corsini , imbued with Caliph 's own sweet and energetic temperament , is one of the strongest female characters in Italian literature .
Caliph , published in 1964 , was his break - through novel .