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Roman Stories

By Jhumpa Lahiri
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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
In Roman Stories, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jhumpa Lahiri offers a richly textured collection of interwoven narratives set against the evocative backdrop of Rome. Through the lives of diverse characters—a man reminiscing about a transformative summer party, a grieving couple seeking solace, and an outsider family struggling to find their place—the stories explore themes of belonging, loss, and identity in a city that is itself a living, contradictory character. Translated from Italian by Lahiri and Todd Portnowitz, these tales capture the subtle complexities of human emotion and the timeless allure of Rome.
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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?

This collection will resonate with readers who appreciate literary fiction that delves into human complexity and the subtle interplay between place and identity. Fans of character-driven stories and admirers of international settings will find Roman Stories a compelling and beautifully written exploration of life on the margins in a city of eternal charm.

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Jhumpa Lahiri, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Interpreter of Maladies, returns to the form of short stories with an astonishing work of fiction, set in and around Rome.

Jhumpa Lahiri, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Interpreter of Maladies, comes to Picador with an astonishing work of fiction, set in and around Rome.

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

From the internationally bestselling, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Interpreter of Maladies comes an exquisitely crafted work of fiction. Jhumpa Lahiri sets her gaze on the eternally beautiful city, illuminating the frailties of the human condition and dissecting lives lived on the margins.

A man recalls a summer party that awakens an alternative version of himself. A couple haunted by a tragic loss return to seek consolation. An outsider family is pushed out of the block in which they hoped to settle. A set of steps in a Roman neighbourhood connects the daily lives of the city's myriad inhabitants. This is an evocative fresco of Rome, the most alluring character of all: contradictory, in constant transformation and a home to those who know they can't fully belong but choose it anyway.

Rich with Lahiri's signature gifts, Roman Stories is a masterful work from one of the finest writers of our time.

Translated from the Italian by Jhumpa Lahiri and Todd Portnowitz.

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?

Critics hail Lahiri as a writer of formidable powers and uncommon elegance. The Observer praises her depth of feeling, while The Sunday Times recognises her as one of the most interesting American writers today. Time notes her ability to portray people and places richly and ambiguously, and the New York Times applauds her poise. Reviews from Spectator, The Irish Times, and Vanity Fair commend her intelligent, astute voice and elegant style. Salman Rushdie calls Lahiri’s voice extraordinary, and Sainsbury's Magazine highlights the breath-taking quality of her writing.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781035017560

Publisher: Pan Macmillan

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 12 October 2023

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Picador

Contributors:

  • Translated by Jhumpa Lahiri
  • Translated by Todd Portnowitz

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 20.0mm

Width: 153.0mm

Height: 234.0mm

Weight: 286g

Pages: 224

Collections

Fiction Fiction in Translation General Fiction Jhumpa Lahiri

About the Author

Jhumpa Lahiri, a bilingual writer and translator, received the Pulitzer Prize in 2000 for Interpreter of Maladies, her debut story collection. She is also the author of The Namesake, Unaccustomed Earth, and The Lowland, which was a finalist for both the Booker Prize and the National Book Award in fiction.

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