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The Smell of Hay

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( 339 ratings, 45 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Smell of Hay by Giorgio Bassani is a collection of evocative stories set in the Jewish community of Ferrara, Italy. The narrative captures the nuances of everyday life while reflecting on themes of memory, identity, and the passage of time. Through vivid descriptions and introspective moments, it explores the intertwining of personal and historical experiences in mid-20th century Italy.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you appreciate beautifully crafted narratives that delve into the complexities of human relationships and explore the intricate tapestry of memories set against the backdrop of Italian landscapes. The author's evocative writing creates a poignant atmosphere, capturing the essence of life's fleeting moments and the profound connections between past and present.

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The Smell of Hay

A collection of short stories that evokes isolated lives and a lost world in stories that are set in the Jewish-Italian community of 1930s Ferrara.

Part of the sequence including The Gold-Rimmed Spectacles and The Garden of the Finzi-Continis, and featuring people and places from these novels, The Smell of Hay is told with a voice that is by turns intimate, ironic, elegiac and rueful.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

A new translation of this haunting collection of short stories that evoke 1930s Ferrara, with an introduction by Ali Smith.

Isolated lives and a lost world are evoked in these haunting stories set in the Jewish-Italian community of 1930s Ferrara. A young man's unrequited love; a strange disappearance; a faded hotel; a lonely funfair; the smell of mown hay at the gates of the Jewish Cemeteryβ€”these vivid, impressionistic snapshots build a picture of life's brevity and intensity.

Part of the sequence including The Gold-Rimmed Spectacles and The Garden of the Finzi-Continis, and featuring people and places from these novels, The Smell of Hay is told with a voice that is by turns intimate, ironic, elegiac and rueful.

This new translation contains two pieces, added by Bassani to his earlier collection, which have never appeared in English before.

Series: Penguin Modern Classics

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Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

The Smell of Hay by Giorgio Bassani is praised for its evocative storytelling and vivid depiction of 20th-century life. The Guardian highlights Bassani as both a remarkable artist and a profound witness of his time, underscoring the book's artistic and historical significance.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780141192123

Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 07 August 2014

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Penguin Classics

Contributors:

  • Translated by Jamie McKendrick

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 6.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 196.0mm

Weight: 92g

Pages: 112

About the Author

Giorgio Bassani (Author) Giorgio Bassani was born in 1916. From 1938 onwards he became involved in various anti-fascist activities for which he was imprisoned in 1943. His works include The Gold-Rimmed Spectacles, and Five Stories of Ferrara (Within the Walls), which won the Strega Prize. The Garden of the Finzi-Continis was awarded the Viareggio Prize in 1962 and was made into a feature film.

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