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The Serpent Coiled in Naples

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( 110 ratings, 19 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 Serpent Coiled in Naples by Marius Kociejowski offers a rich exploration of Naples, weaving together its vibrant culture, history, and idiosyncratic charm. Through personal anecdotes and encounters with locals, Kociejowski paints a vivid tapestry of the city's complex character, balancing its allure with the ever-present sense of hidden, serpentine enigmas. The book captures the spirit of a place where the past and present intertwine in fascinating and unexpected ways.
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Format: Paperback / softback
$3799
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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 book may appeal to you if you are captivated by the vibrant history and culture of Naples, intertwining personal narratives with the city's fascinating past. The author's keen observations and evocative storytelling could intrigue those curious about Italy's lesser-known treasures and the complexities of its urban life.

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The Serpent Coiled in Naples is a travelogue, a meditation on mortality, and much else besides.

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 travelogue revealing the hidden stories of Naples.

In recent years, Naples has become, for better or worse, the new destination in Italy. While many of its more unusual features are on display for all to see, the stories behind them remain largely hidden. In Marius Kociejowski’s portrait of this baffling city, the serpent can be many things: Vesuvius, the mafia-like Camorra, the outlying Phlegrean Fields (which, geologically speaking, constitute the second most dangerous area on the planet). It is all these things that have, at one time or another, put paid to the higher aspirations of Neapolitans themselves.

Naples is simultaneously the city of light, sometimes blindingly so, and the city of darkness, although often the stuff of cliché. The boundary that separates death from life is porous in the extreme: the dead inhabit the world of the living and vice versa. The Serpent Coiled in Naples is a travelogue, a meditation on mortality, and much else besides.

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 Serpent Coiled in Naples by Marius Kociejowski has received praise for its poetic and eclectic portrayal of Naples, likened to both a travel guide and a piece of literature. Critics highlight its blend of scholarly yet engaging prose, capturing the city's death-haunted essence and vibrant spirit. It's considered a monument in travel writing and might inspire readers to explore this intricate and storied city.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781914982026

Publisher: Haus Publishing

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 20 April 2023

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Armchair Traveller

Illustration: 63

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 128.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 560

About the Author

MARIUS KOCIEJOWSKI is a poet, essayist and travel writer. Among the books he has written are The Street Philosopher and the Holy Fool: A Syrian Journey (Eland, 2016) and a sequel, The Pigeon Wars of Damascus. He lives in London, England where, until recently, he worked as an antiquarian bookseller.

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