Dacia Maraini Knihy

A year in the life of three modern women, a grandmother, her daughter, and her granddaughter, living together under one roof, each struggling with love, revolt, reality in different (st)ages of existence. Their interactions are chronicled through each woman's stylistically varied voice as reported in three distinct forms of communication: diary entries, letters, and audio recordings. Despite appearances of conflicting perspectives, in the end their ardent solidarity promises their survival.

An author receives a mysterious e-mail begging her to tell the story of Clare of Assisi, the thirteenth-century Italian saint. At first annoyed by the request, the author begins to research Saint Clare and becomes captivated by her life. We too are transported into the strange and beautiful world of medieval Italy, witnessing the daily rituals of convent life. At the center of that life is Saint Clare, a subversive and compelling figure full of contradictions: a physically disabled woman who travels widely in her imagination, someone unforgivingly harsh to herself yet infinitely generous to the women she supervises, a practitioner of self-abnegation who nevertheless knows her own worth. A visionary who liberated herself from the chains of materialism and patriarchy, Saint Clare here becomes an inspirational figure for a new generation of readers.

1956: Amara, a young Italian journalist, is sent to report on the growing political divide between East and West in post-war central Europe. She also has a more personal mission: to find out what happened to Emanuele, her childhood friend and soulmate from pre-war Florence. Emanuele and his family were Jews transported by the Nazis from wartime Vienna. So she visits the Holocaust museum at Auschwitz, and Budapest, where she is caught up in the tumultuous events of the October rising against the Soviet Union. Along the way she meets many other survivors, each with their own story to tell. But did Emanuele survive the war or, like so many other Viennese Jews, did he die in Auschwitz or a ghetto in Poland?

The collection features twenty-four stories from seventeen contemporary Italian women, showcasing a blend of tradition and modernity in Italian literature. It highlights the accomplishments of female authors while introducing fresh perspectives and vibrant narratives that invigorate the landscape of Italian fiction.

Set in the mid-18th century, Dacia Maraini's unforgettable novel tells the story of three generations of the Ucria family, seen through the watchful eyes of the deaf-mute Duchess Marianna. Married at 13 to her own uncle and set apart from other people by her disability, she relentlessly searches for fulfilment in a society where women either face marriage and endless child-bearing or a life of renunciation within the walls of a convent.

Exploring themes of distress, exclusion, tragedy, and societal expectations of women, this collection features four theatrical works that delve into the complexities of gender and culture. It serves as a valuable resource for students interested in Italian language, gender studies, and modern Italian literature and theater, offering insights into the societal roles and challenges faced by women.

The diary chronicles Vannina's transformative journey toward self-awareness, beginning during a holiday in the Bay of Naples. After her husband returns to work, she befriends Suna, who inspires her to explore love among women and reject traditional roles. Back in Rome, Vannina embraces independence, shedding her past life. The narrative is rich with sensory details, celebrating Mediterranean culture and the strength of women as they seek change through understanding and compassion, transcending political divides. Maraini's writing is celebrated as a milestone in Italian literature.

"Sicilia, 1743. Il loro legame viene da lontano, e ha radici profonde. È nato quando, ancora bambine, Agata e Annuzza hanno imparato l'arte tutta femminile del ricamo sotto lo sguardo severo di suor Mendola; è cresciuto nutrendosi delle avventure del Cid e Ximena, lette insieme in giardino, ad alta voce, in bocca il sapore dolce di una gremolata alla fragola; ha resistito alle capriole del destino, che hanno fatto di Agata la sposa di Girolamo e di Annuzza una giovane donna ancora libera dalle soggezioni e dalle gioie del matrimonio. Ora, mentre un'epidemia di peste sta decimando la popolazione di Messina, le due amiche coltivano a distanza il loro rapporto in punta di penna, perché la paura del contagio le ha allontanate dalla città ma non ha spento la voglia di far parte l'una della vita dell'altra. E anche se è lo stesso uomo ad accendere i loro desideri, e il cuore scalpita per imporre le proprie ragioni, Agata e Annuzza sapranno difendere dalla gelosia e dalle convenzioni del mondo la loro amicizia, che racconta meglio di qualunque altro sentimento le donne che hanno scelto di essere"--Dust jacket