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The Castle of Crossed Destinies

By Italo Calvino
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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
A group of travellers find themselves unable to speak, stranded first in a castle and then a tavern. Instead of words, they convey their stories through tarot cards, weaving an intricate and surreal tapestry of narratives. This fantastical tale explores the myths and histories interlinking human consciousness in a unique and imaginative way.
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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?

Ideal for readers who appreciate experimental fiction, magical realism, and literary works that blend visual art with narrative. Those interested in mythology, surreal storytelling, and layered, thoughtful narratives will find this book particularly compelling.

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A group of travellers chance to meet, first in a castle, then a tavern. Their powers of speech are magically taken from them and instead they have only tarot cards with which to tell their stories. What follows is an exquisite interlinking of narratives, and a fantastic, surreal and chaotic history of all human consciousness.

'A shamelessly original work of art' New York Times

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 shamelessly original work of art — New York Times

A group of travellers chance to meet, first in a castle, then a tavern. Their powers of speech are magically taken from them, and instead, they have only tarot cards with which to tell their stories. What follows is an exquisite interlinking of narratives, and a fantastic, surreal and chaotic history of all human consciousness.

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 Castle of Crossed Destinies is hailed as a shamelessly original work of art, celebrated for its magical storytelling and complex interwoven tales. Critics from The Times and New Yorker highlight Calvino's masterful fusion of visual and verbal elements, crafting a mesmerizing narrative experience that transcends conventional fiction. Gore Vidal praises Calvino's ability to create a fantastic web of prose, setting him apart from his contemporaries.

Book Hero reading reviews

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780099268055

Publisher: Vintage Publishing

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 02 October 1997

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Vintage Classics

Contributors:

  • Translated by William Weaver
  • Translated by William Weaver

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 10.0mm

Width: 130.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 120g

Pages: 144

Collections

Fiction General Fiction Italo Calvino Literary Fiction Penguin Books

About the Author

Italo Calvino (Author) Italo Calvino was born in Cuba in 1923 and grew up in Italy. He was an essayist and journalist and a member of the editorial staff of Einaudi in Turin. One of the most respected writers of the twentieth century, his best-known works of fiction include Invisible Cities, If on a Winter's Night a Traveller, Marcovaldo and Mr Palomar. In 1973 he won the prestigious Premio Feltrinelli. He died in 1985. A collection of Calvino's posthumous personal writings, The Hermit in Paris, was published in 2003. William Weaver (Translator) William Weaver has translated Umberto Eco, Italo Svevo, Primo Levi, Italo Calvino and Roberto Calasso, among others. He is a professor at Bard College.

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