The hero of the novel said: I made sure to write down the history of my life because it included strange coincidences that sometimes led me to doubt its authenticity if it were true, and here I am narrating to the reader the most important wonders and strange things that I have encountered in my life, without addition or subtraction, relying on the Creator of the universes. So I say:
I am a man of Roman origin, Catholic, residing in England. My father died when I was young, then my mother, may God have mercy on them, joined him after I reached twenty-three years of age, that is, two years before the events of my story began. They left me a lot of money, no less than five thousand liras annually. I was strong in build and extremely determined, with absolute will and action, based on what I inherited from my parents. However, I was the most miserable human being, deprived of the pleasures of this world. I did not enjoy the sights of nature, nor did I take solace in seeing the universe and watching human creatures. I often used to envy and envy those of lower status to the point that I longed to beg and beg from those whom my eyes could see; Because I lost my sense of sight and was deprived - alas - of the pleasure of sight.