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The Dry Heart

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( 11,996 ratings, 1,746 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 Dry Heart by Natalia Ginzburg delves into the complex emotions and psychological turmoil of a woman who is driven to an extreme act. Set in post-war Italy, the narrative unravels her strained marriage, exploring themes of love, betrayal, and the suffocating nature of unfulfilled desires. Ginzburg's poignant storytelling explores the depths of loneliness and the stark reality of personal revolutions.
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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 are drawn to intense, introspective narratives exploring the complexities of human emotions and relationships. With its concise yet powerful prose, this story delves into themes of love, betrayal, and existential despair, offering a profound psychological portrait that lingers beyond the final page.

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'If Ferrante is a friend, Ginzburg is a mentor.' - Guardian

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

The Dry Heart begins and ends with the matter-of-fact pronouncement: 'I shot him between the eyes.'

As the tale—a plunge into the chilly waters of loneliness, desperation, and revenge—proceeds, the narrator's murder of her flighty husband takes on a certain logical inevitability.

Stripped of any preciousness or sentimentality, Natalia Ginzburg's writing here is white-hot, tempered by rage. She transforms the unhappy tale of an ordinary dull marriage into a rich psychological thriller that seems to beg the question: why don't more wives kill their husbands?

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 Dry Heart by Natalia Ginzburg is often praised for its profound exploration of the complexities of human relationships and emotional turmoil. The novel's concise and sharp prose effectively conveys a dissection of a disintegrating marriage, capturing the reader with its psychological depth and intensity. Ginzburg's work is noted for its raw, unflinching portrayal of disillusionment, and its narrative is both haunting and thought-provoking.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781911547600

Publisher: Daunt Books

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 20 May 2021

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Daunt Books

Contributors:

  • Translated by Frances Frenaye

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Weight: 250g

Pages: 120

About the Author

Natalia Ginzburg (1916-1991) was born in Palermo, Sicily. She wrote dozens of books including the essay collection The Little Virtues, and the novels Happiness, as Such, Voices in the Evening and the Strega Prize-winning Family Lexicon, all published by Daunt Books. She was involved in political activism throughout her life and served in the
Italian parliament from 1983 to 1987.

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