Viola Ardone's 'Grande Meraviglia' Examines Italy's Deinstitutionalization of Mental Asylums

Viola Ardone's novel 'Grande Meraviglia' (Einaudi, 2023) tells the story of a young girl named Elba who lives in a mental asylum in Italy. Through Elba's diary of mental illnesses, the book explores the closure of psychiatric hospitals and the 1978 Basaglia Law that reformed mental health care. The narrative follows Elba's relationship with Dr. Fausto Meraviglia, a psychiatrist who embodies the push for deinstitutionalization and takes her into his home. The novel is part of an informal trilogy by Ardone, following 'Il treno dei bambini' (post-war child migration) and 'Oliva Denaro' (women's rights and rape law reform). Each book uses a personal story to reflect broader Italian social changes. The article, published on Artspecialday, praises Ardone's ability to weave historical events into accessible fiction.