[Rheumatology in the Italian literary fiction: "La Longobarda" by Giorgio Conconi (1999)]

In the literary fiction "La Longobarda" by Giorgio Conconi (1999) the protagonist Linda narrates her life, when about fifty she falls ill because of arthritis, thus looking prematurely older and suffering from severe disturbances of body image. This fiction represents an uncommon case of contemporary literature dealing with rheumatological topics. In the present note, it has shown how literature can contribute in several ways to achievement in the human dimension of medicine, by teaching physician concrete and powerful lessons about the lives of sick people.