“Dai cancelli d’acciaio” and Gnosis. Genesis and function of the Protovangel of John in the novel by Gabriele Frasca

Abstract

The aim of the essay is to examine the relationship between gnostic beliefs and Gabriele Frasca’s latest novel, Dai cancelli d’acciaio, namely as regards to the Protoevangelium of John and the character whose subplot is linked to it, Cardinal Bruno. Moreover, this paper wants to highlight those literary models from which this philological fiction draws inspiration and to review and recover the specific sources used by Frasca to create this manuscript. Finally, the analysis tries to give an interpretation of the role that this fictional Protoevangelium plays throughout the narrative.