If you’re a fan of brooding, moody intellectuals, then Alberto Moravia is the patron saint you never knew you needed. With a career spanning over five decades, Moravia cemented his place as a master of the written word and a leading figure in Italian literature. But it’s not just his impressive body of work that makes him the patron saint of brooding intellectuals—it’s his ability to perfectly capture the complex, tortured inner lives of his characters that really sets him apart.

So, why is Alberto Moravia the patron saint of brooding intellectuals? Let’s take a closer look.

First of all, it’s important to understand that brooding isn’t just a phase for the characters in Moravia’s novels—it’s a way of life. From his early works like “The Time of Indifference” to his later novels like “Conjugal Love,” Moravia’s characters are plagued by a sense of ennui and disconnection from the world around them. They may be wealthy, powerful, or even famous, but at their core, they are deeply unhappy and unfulfilled.

This sense of disillusionment is something that many intellectuals can relate to, and it’s a feeling that Moravia captures perfectly. Whether it’s the protagonist of “Two Adolescents” struggling to find meaning in a society that values superficiality over substance, or the narrator of “The Conformist” grappling with his own moral corruption, Moravia’s characters are all searching for something—and often coming up empty-handed.

But it’s not just the characters that make Moravia the patron saint of brooding intellectuals—it’s also his writing style. In his novels, Moravia employs a dry, matter-of-fact tone that perfectly captures the detachment and disenchantment of his characters. His prose is precise and unadorned, but it’s also infused with a sense of irony and satire that adds depth and complexity to his work.

In short, Alberto Moravia is the patron saint of brooding intellectuals because he understands the complexities of the human psyche and is able to convey them with wit, intelligence, and a touch of sardonic humor. So, if you’re a fan of literature that delves deep into the human condition and isn’t afraid to tackle difficult themes, then you should definitely check out the works of Alberto Moravia.

But be warned—his novels are not for the faint of heart. They may be filled with brooding intellectuals, but they are also filled with raw emotion, moral ambiguity, and—in some cases—steamy love scenes. So, if you’re ready to take the plunge and dive into the complex, tortured world of Alberto Moravia, then grab a copy of one of his novels and get ready to be transported to a place where brooding is not just a pastime, but a way of life.