italian-studies: Scholarly discussions in any field of Italian studies
I cannot resist chipping in to this increasingly fascinating discussion
triggered off by Iain Evans. Thanks to you in particular, James Ward.
There is an extraordinary (I think) case of ekphrasis in an undeservedly (I
think) neglected novel by Ugo Terruggi, Luisa e il presidente (Edizioni
Mediterranee, Rome, 1972). This is extremely hard to get hold of as most
of the edition was pulped. The second edition (Einuadi 1980) was shorn of
a major character and over one fifth of its very moderate length without
the author's permission. (Roba da 'Se in una notte d'inverno...'!) On p
66-67 of the 1972 edition, the narrator, Silvio, first sees a painting by
his friend Guido (the character excised in the Einaudi edition). This is
an abstract in black and white, exquisitely described, whose whirling lines
irresistibly draw the eye to an epiphany of "il mostro", NOT described at
this point, but described in the prefatory chapter, titled "il mostro", as
a laceration or grimace momentarily glimpsed by the narrator in his own
face in his shaving mirror and when least expected in other people's faces
also. Unnerving.
SEPTEMBER 11, 2001: LET US ALL HAVE THE WISDOM TO SEE BEYOND OUR OWN NARROW
INTERESTS
John Gatt-Rutter
Vaccari Professor in Italian Studies
School of Historical and European Studies
La Trobe University
(Melbourne) Victoria 3086
AUSTRALIA
tel: (#61)3-9479-1933
fax: European Studies (#61)3-9479-1453
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