The Wine-Dark Sea

by Leonardo Sciascia

Other authorsAlbert Mobilio (Introduction), Avril Bardoni (Translator)
Paperback, 2000

Status

Available

Call number

853.914

Collection

Publication

NYRB Classics (2000), Paperback, 224 pages

Description

Leonardo Sciascia was an outstanding and controversial presence in twentieth-century Italian literary and intellectual life. Writing about his native Sicily and its culture of secrecy and suspicion, Sciascia matched sympathy with skepticism, unflinching intelligence with a streetfighter's intransigent poise. Sciascia was particularly admired for his short stories, and The Wine-Dark Sea offers what he considered his best work in the genre: thirteen spare and trenchant miniatures that range in subject from village idiots to mafia dons, marital spats to American dreams. Here, in unforgettable form, Sciascia examines the contradictions-sometimes comic, sometimes deadly, and sometimes both-of Sicily's turbulent history and day-to-day life.

User reviews

LibraryThing member William345
The first half of this book of stories I found flat and not up to Sciascia's usual rich level of storytelling. But then halfway through, starting with the tale "Demotion," I felt the stories begin to deepen. By the time I got to "End Game," p. 121, I was without question back in the master's hands.
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This seems to me an anomaly in Sciascia's otherwise unusually consistent oeuvre. I'd like to know if the translation is at fault. I don't have a word of Italian, but a couple examples of English phrasing I found laughably bad. I would ask that any GR reader who has Italian to render a verdict on this translation. I'd really like to know what you think. So this is an uneven collection, for whatever the reason, recommended with reservations. However, I do not hesitate to recommend Sciascia's other collections in English. There are two that are fabulous. They are Open Doors, available in US as a Vintage print-on-demand book, and Sicilian Uncles, on Granta Books, a British imprint and not currently in print. Of the novels, my two favorites are To Each His Own and Equal Danger. See my reviews.
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LibraryThing member stef7sa
There are some very nice farsical stories in this collection, folktale like, anecdotical, told with utter pleasure. Worth reading!
LibraryThing member hemlokgang
This is such an interesting collection of short stories, and my first introduction to the Sicilian author, Leonardo Sciascia. The stories are distinctly different in plot, yet there were common threads throughout. They abound with passions, violence, revenge, betrayal, and family love and loyalty.
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I felt as though I was peeking into a culture which is at once a bit intimidating and deeply intriguing. Clearly, Sciascia is an erudite, articulate writer which brings a richness and depth to his stories that is icing on the cake!
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LibraryThing member Gypsy_Boy
One of Sciascia’s best-known works, a collection of short stories about Sicily—a wide variety of subjects and moods, but all betraying a deep love for Sicily and its people(s). A terrific introduction, I think, to an author whose work I look forward to reading more of.

Language

Original language

Italian

Original publication date

1959 (original Italian)

Physical description

224 p.; 8 inches

ISBN

0940322536 / 9780940322530

Local notes

New York Review Books Classics
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