A Life

by Italo Svevo

Other authorsA. Colquhoun (Translator)
Paperback, 1991

Status

Available

Call number

853.8

Collection

Publication

Penguin (1991), Paperback, 304 pages

Description

A Life is the gruelling tale of the frustrated existence of a bank clerk with a poetic soul. The artistic aspirations of the protagonist and the emptiness of his daily life become tragic in the great divide between what he wants and what he actually has and gets. Alfonso the bank clerk wants to be a poet and seems to be falling in love with Annetta, the vain and arrogant daughter of his boss. But the emptiness of both his attempts at writing and at love lead to an ironic and painful conclusion.

User reviews

LibraryThing member jon1lambert
This is the first ever book by Svevo apart from one on tram journeys. Triete is the backdrop - everyone is always walking up or down the Corso. Poor old Alfonso, the bank clerk, he does lead an unhappy life. It is all very analytical and soul searching and you rapidly realise he is doomed.

Subjects

Language

Original language

Italian

Original publication date

1892 (Italiaans)
1982 (Nederlands)

Physical description

304 p.; 7.7 inches

ISBN

0140181865 / 9780140181869
Page: 0.3672 seconds