Vae Victis! Romanzo

Vae Victis! Romanzo, written by Annie Vivanti in the early 20th century, follows three young women—Chérie, Mirella, and their German governess, Frida—vacationing in Belgium as the threat of World War I looms. Their carefree summer is disrupted by the arrival of news about the impending conflict, contrasting Chérie's youthful exuberance with Frida's anxiety. The novel explores the impact of war on women, detailing the brutal realities of German occupation and the difficult choices faced by women in the wake of violence and trauma.