Venero Armanno's writing delves into themes of identity and displacement, often drawing from his own experiences as the son of migrants. His prose is characterized by a strong sense of place and atmosphere, frequently set in evocative or unfamiliar locales. Armanno explores the complexities of human connection and the search for belonging in an ever-shifting world. His internationally recognized works reveal a profound understanding of the human psyche and societal transformations.
Exploring themes of passion, longing, and the intersection of truth and fiction, this collection features a widower discovering new love and language in Barcelona's surreal landscape. It also follows a film enthusiast as he reconnects with a past unrequited love, weaving through decades and lifetimes. The stories blend the familiar with the foreign, set against a backdrop of diverse influences, from Greek choral music to 1970s slasher films, creating a rich tapestry of human experience.
Agata Rosso, a once-mighty yet now prematurely aged European witch, believes that the special gifts in a young girl named Lía Munro can restore youth and vitality both to herself and her bedridden husband. She sets a deadly plan in motion to capture and use Lía-but will the girl have enough power to protect herself, plus the father she loves so much?
Now, in his coffin as his friends prepare to bury him, Max is surrounded by the ghosts of his life and the dreams that never faded. All the old music is back too - from raw seventies rock-and roll to the type of cool jazz that made legends of John Coltrane and Miles Davis.In this sea of memory, Max recalls the tragedies, people and relationships that defined his life. From his first love Maree Kilmister he learned about sex; from his great love Debbie Canova he learned about loss; and from the enigmatic Laetecia Sparks, he learned about hope. As the players in his life gather for his funeral, he has one last chance to relive his past and see it for what it was.Driven by music and passion, The Dirty Beat shimmers with an electric intensity.