Domenico Starnone's writing often draws from his experiences as a high school teacher, exploring themes related to education and the human condition. His essays and journalistic pieces, published in various newspapers and satirical magazines, showcase a sharp wit and a keen observational eye. Starnone has also lent his talents to screenwriting, with several of his books adapted into successful films. His distinctive voice and insightful prose make him a significant figure in contemporary Italian literature.
Exploring themes of childhood, memory, and obsession, this novel delves into the complexities of the narratives we create and inhabit. The story, crafted by National Book Award Finalist Domenico Starnone, invites readers to reflect on the fictions that shape our lives, offering a poignant examination of how these elements intertwine and influence our perceptions of reality.
Domenico Starnone's thirteenth work of fiction is a powerful short novel about relationships, family, love, and the ineluctable consequences of one's actions.
When apparently mild-mannered retired teacher Domenico Stasi learns that a former student of his is being held as a suspected terrorist, he seeks her out to assure himself of her innocence and that his teachings have not created a monster. But she proudly declares her guilt. What's more, she entrusts him with a task that initially seems a child's game but soon becomes much more serious...
FROM THE AUTHOR OF THE INTERNATIONAL BOOKER LONGLISTED AND WINNER OF THE STREGA PRIZE THE HOUSE ON VIA GEMITO
Longlisted for the INTERNATIONAL BOOKER PRIZE 2024Winner of the STREGA PRIZE
A sharp, breath-taking exploration of love and relationships
In this novel, a couple exchange confessions during nightly blackouts in a Boston apartment as they struggle to cope with a heartbreaking loss.
Introduzione di Domenico Starnone. Il travaglio compositivo dell'opera rispecchia la crisi, non solo politica, ma soprattutto filosofica ed esistenziale dell'autore, scaturita dal contrasto tra leggi meccanicistiche della natura e ansia di vita, tra razionalismo e nuove aspirazioni romantiche.
Uno scrittore maturo sta avviando la stesura del suo nuovo romanzo. È incerto, insicuro dei propri mezzi. Lo diventa ancora di più quando incontra Gamurra, un ambizioso giovanotto che gli affida la sua opera prima sperando di essere aiutato. Il piccolo mondo della letteratura ronza, è un rumore di fondo che mal si concilia con il lavoro. Eppure è dentro quel mondo che Gamurra riappare ormai coronato dal successo, ed è in quel mondo che il protagonista corteggia, ricambiato, una "collega" colta e affascinante, tanto da minare il suo rapporto con la moglie. Da bambini si gioca con l'imperfetto (io ero, tu eri) e si evocano mondi immaginari. Da adulti un artista continua il gioco. Ma quanto è pericoloso abitare una realtà parallela?
Roman
Ein erfolgreicher Schriftsteller arbeitet in seiner römischen Wohnung an einem Roman und lebt während intensiver Schreibphasen mit Gespenstern in seinem Kopf. Diese Gespenster sind Erinnerungen und Objekte aus seiner Vergangenheit: Fußballspieler auf Sammelbildchen, ein altmodisches Rasiermesser, seltsame Tiere, ein Freund aus Neapel und seine strahlende Mutter, deren früher Tod ihn belastet. Jedes Mal, wenn sie erscheinen, verliert er sich in einem Schattenreich, entfernt sich von der zerstrittenen Welt des Literaturbetriebs und isoliert sich von Familie und Freunden, während nur seine Geliebte ihn zeitweise zurückholt. Doch was ist Wirklichkeit? Ist nicht jedes Erzählen ein Akt der Schöpfung? Wie ihn als Kind Rollenspiele in ferne Abenteuer entführten, so erlebt er jetzt beim Schreiben die Gefahren dieses Spiels. Das Rasiermesser, das in der Handlung auftaucht, symbolisiert die scharfen Einschnitte in sein Leben. Wie weit darf das Risiko gehen, sich in eine Parallelwelt zu begeben? Der gefeierte italienische Autor thematisiert in seinem Roman über das Schriftstellerdasein Fragen der Realität und des Erzählens, während er auch von bedeutenden Kolleginnen und Kollegen wie Italo Calvino, Jack London, Nabokov und Kafka erzählt.