Open City: Seven Writers In Postwar Rome

William Weaver (ed)

Editions

Review

This handsomely produced paperback presents the work of seven twentieth century Italian writers through their relationship with Rome.  There are substantial extracts from Elsa Morante, Ignazio Silone, Natalia Ginzburg, Alberto Moravia, Carlo Emilio Gadda, Giorgio Bassani, and Carlo Levi.  Extracts vary in length between 30 and 130 pages, but in each case there is enough to get a real flavour of the writer.  This is a valuable book from two perspectives: anyone going to Rome will find it an excellent companion, while anyone seeking an introduction to postwar Italian literature could do no better. - review by Johnny de Falbe