Veiller sur elle by Jean-Baptiste Andrea is a sweeping, poignant novel set in 20th-century Italy, centered on the lives of Michelangelo “Mimo” Vitaliani, a gifted sculptor born into poverty and afflicted with dwarfism, and Viola Orsini, a spirited heiress from a prestigious Genoese family. Despite their vastly different backgrounds, the two form an unbreakable bond upon meeting as children, vowing never to part. Their relationship, marked by intense connection yet fraught with societal barriers, unfolds against the backdrop of Italy’s turbulent history, including the rise of fascism. The story alternates between 1986, where an aging Mimo reflects on his life from a monastery while guarding a mysterious statue, and his past, tracing his artistic rise, personal struggles, and enduring tie to Viola. This lyrical novel explores art, destiny, and an impossible love, set against a vividly rendered historical backdrop