Carla Isernia releases debut novel set in Naples' Real Albergo dei Poveri

Carla Isernia, a professor of General and Inorganic Chemistry at the University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli,” has released her debut novel, “Giuseppina dell’Albergo dei Poveri,” published by Astoria.

Set in the first half of the 1800s, the story centers on Giuseppina, a woman whose life is inextricably linked to the Real Albergo dei Poveri in Naples. Originally established by Carlo di Borbone to house orphans, the elderly, and the needy, the institution is referred to by locals as the “Serraglio” or “Reclusorio.”

The narrative begins with Giuseppina’s death in the facility's infirmary, following a post-mortem experience where her soul observes her own body and the people who shaped her life, including her children, friends, and fellow workers. The novel explores her complex relationship with the institution, depicting a sense of being trapped between the desire for external freedom and the reality of a life built entirely within its walls.