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Set in late 15th-century Florence during the Italian Renaissance, the story follows the intellectual and spiritual awakening of the title character, Romola de' Bardi. Romola is the virtuous and devoted daughter of a blind scholar, Bardo, and spends her youth assisting him in his studies.The narrative tension is driven by the arrival of Tito Melema, a handsome and charismatic Greek stranger who survives a shipwreck. Tito quickly integrates himself into Florentine society, eventually marrying Romola. However, his character is defined by betrayal and duplicity; he leads a double life with a naive peasant girl named Tessa and repeatedly chooses self-interest over moral duty.