A Study in Solitude
Description
<strong>An extremely moving account of the lonely life of the unloved and tragic genius - described as "the greatest modern Italian poet"</strong>
<em>'Love me, by God; I need love, love, love, fire, enthusiasm, life. The world does not seem made for me'</em>
Giacomo Leopardi, considered the greatest Italian poet since Dante, was one of the most radical thinkers of the nineteenth century. He also regarded himself one of the most miserable and unfortunate people to have lived.
Born to strict parents in a provincial town in 1798, he had a lonely childhood, and he spent his time largely in his father's library. He suffered from a debilitating illness, and his short life was full of pain. But this pain and misery gave rise to some of the most intense and brilliant poems ever written in the Italian language.
In this poetic biography, Iris Origo, author of the bestselling <em>War in Val d'Orcia</em> traces the short and lonely life of this conflicted poet. Written with generosity and understanding, <em>A Study in Solitude</em> is a sharp, moving portrait of a frail and frustrated genius.
Reviews / Votes
Origo evokes the bittersweet, unlived life with... sympathy and clarity * Publishers Weekly * In her biographies she was able to write precisely on the cusp between the two cultures, turning her work into a bridge of interpretation and understanding -- Tessa Hadley * London Review of Books * A meticulous and at times inspired biographer * Spectator * Sympathetic and discerning, devoted to her subject yet recognising his considerable faults of character, expert at sifting evidence and settling old controversies, she is the ideal biographer * Spectator * A sublime wordsmith and an astute and passionate observer of human behavior * New York Times * One of Leopardi's most perceptive biographies * Open Letters Arts and Literature Review * Origo was a remarkable writer, with a clear, engaging style, a mind steeped in history and scholarship, but alive always to the nuances and subtleties of human relationships. The hope is that [Pushkin's republication of her work] bring her a new generation of readers * TLS *More details
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